Tag: best sleep apnea treatment

Glen Burnie MD Sleep Apnea Dentist | Sleep Apnea and Children

Posted on by usermiller

The typical sleep apnea patient often appears in our minds as an overweight, middle-aged to older man. While it’s true that many people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea fit this description, children and young adults can also suffer from the disease.

There are however, a few key differences between the sleep apnea your children may face. For instance, children are much more likely to experience behavioral problems, while adults usually deal with daytime drowsiness. For many kids too, the common cause of sleep apnea comes from an enlargement of the tonsils or adenoids (a part of the lymphatic system) rather than obesity.

While sleep apnea is a serious condition for anyone who suffers, it is especially important for children who are still developing mentally and physically to get the care they need. Untreated sleep apnea can cause your child to become sick more frequently and more seriously, affect growth, cognitive development, and as previously mentioned, behavior.

At a young age, sleep is particularly important to human development. Many studies done across the globe have shown this to be the case. In everything from weight gain and diabetes to learning and focus in school and daily life, sleep is the deciding factor.

For instance, growth hormones are primarily secreted during deep sleep. If suffering from sleep apnea, a deep sleep may never be achieved, potentially stunting your child’s growth. Sleep also protects kids from vascular damage and obesity while building up a strong immune system and attention span.

These are all critical aspects of a healthy development for your child, and a good night of sleep is responsible for them all. If you are worried that your child, or anyone in your family could be suffering from sleep apnea, schedule a visit with our office today.  

Sleep Dentist Near Me | Can Sleep Apnea Ruin Your Relationship?

Posted on by usermiller

When you can’t get soothing, natural, uninterrupted sleep, it can affect all aspects of your life. Sleep disorders and a lack of restful sleep can negatively impact your energy levels, concentration, focus, memory, processing skills, even your emotional composure. In short, a lack of sleep can wreak havoc on a person’s physical and emotional well-being, jeopardizing the stability of their personal and professional lives.

Sleep apnea, a condition in which the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airways and causing a person to intermittently stop breathing, is a unique case of unrestful sleep. This is because it doesn’t just affect the sufferer—who often feels tired even after a full night’s sleep—but also his or her partner. The partner of someone with sleep apnea must endure the loud rumbling rhythms of snoring all night long, in some cases every night of the week. The condition can also influence the relationship itself in a host of complicated ways.

Repressed or Pent-Up Frustration

People with sleep apnea don’t just snore. They breathe heavily, loudly gasp for air, and often wake up throughout the night. Having to endure this auditory roller coaster every single evening is enough to get on anyone’s nerves. Partners of individuals suffering from sleep apnea may feel frustrated that their significant other’s condition is negatively affecting their own sleep and general well-being.

Intimacy

Sleep apnea robs sufferers and their partners of more than just sleep, though. Recent research has shown that it is strongly correlated with sexual and erectile dysfunction. A 2009 study found that of the 401 men it surveyed that had sleep apnea, fully 70 percent also experienced erectile dysfunction. Another paper, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, looked at the sexual functioning of middle-aged women who had sleep apnea and those who didn’t. The researchers found that women with the condition reported much higher levels of sexual dysfunction. That kind of damaged or diminished intimacy can, in turn, put profound strains on the rest of the relationship.

Daily Communications

People who don’t get restful sleep because of sleep apnea are often fatigued, foggy, and unfocused during the day. This can leave them less than fully present with their significant others, negatively impacting dialogue and lines of communication. If there’s one feature of relationships that almost everyone agrees is absolutely vital to enduring over the long haul, it’s consistent communication. A person whose mind and body is riddled by sleep apnea’s toxic effects will struggle to consistently achieve that.

Our office can help you overcome sleep apnea and all of its negative effects. Schedule an appointment today to get started.

Glen Burnie MD Sleep Apnea Treatment | What Men Should Know About Sleep Apnea

Posted on by usermiller
Glen Burnie MD Sleep Apnea Treatment | What Men Should Know About Sleep Apnea

It is estimated that nearly 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Of those millions, only about 20% of them seek out treatment.

While sleep apnea can affect anyone, male patients make up ⅔ of reported cases. With the danger high for men, it’s important to know the risks and why you should get help from our expert team.

Symptoms

  • General Fatigue – Everyone has sleepy days. But constant, overwhelming fatigue is a common symptom of sleep apnea in men. Irregular breathing patterns during the night can leave you feeling exhausted during the day.
  • Loud Snoring – Sleep apnea related snoring is loud, persistent and irregular. You may snore so loudly that you wake yourself up, if your sleeping partner doesn’t wake you first. Silent moments aren’t necessarily any better, as they mean you’re not breathing at all.
  • Morning Headaches – If you find yourself experiencing intense headaches in the morning that fade away as they day goes on, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. As you struggle to breathe during the night, your brain can become starved for oxygen, resulting in a headache. As you resume your normal breathing patterns during the day, your oxygen levels increase and the pain goes away.

Risky Business

Now that we all know some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may seem like a minor inconvenience at most. Here are a few more heavy hitting ways that sleep apnea can impact your health.

  1. Hypoxia at night is known to cause a decreased testosterone level, low sperm count, and erectile dysfunction.
  2. Sleep apnea can increase blood pressure and your risk of heart disease, the number one cause of death for men in the United States.
  3.  More than 40 percent of people with obstructive OSA had some depressive symptoms.

None of these dangerous effects should be slept on. Men of every age, regardless of their health can experience the symptoms of sleep apnea and should consult with their medical professional if they think something may be wrong. Contact our office to schedule your next appointment.