More On Sleep Apnea and Brain Power

Today I read an article in Consumer Reports' Health section (March 2010 pg. 12). The author Orly Avitzur MD tells of the rising use of Ritalin and Adderall among adults. Once given as a treatment for children with ADHD, users have found that adults benefit from these drugs with increased concentration abilities. A word of caution from the author states that among the adult population the cause of this "aging, lack of focus and loss of memory" can simply be lack of sleep.
That lack of proper sleep she states can be sleep apnea! Certain medications including antihistamines, pain relievers, incontinence and ulcer drugs can make the mind cloudy and forgetful. Before turning to antihistamines to sleep and attention medications to like Provigil to sharpen us again SIMPLY be sure sleep is part of our 24 hours. Not just in the bed on a pillow but as I put in a previous entry REAL body repairing REM sleep!

Sleep Apnea and the Dentist

Rest is a vital part of our general health. During the night our bodies repair our cells. Without proper rest even the mind suffers. Recognizing sleep deprivation is important for everyone especially those of us in health care. If you are feeling tired through the day, if you fall asleep during the day or if you feel a general mental cloudyness there is a chance you are not resting properly. Some of us just need to get an early night and ACTUALLY REST. At times we find that there are other underlying issues. Sleep Apnea is at times an unrecognized root cause. Sleep Apnea can be caused by many issues: be they genetic, small lower jaw size, excess weight, alcohol consumption etc. Apnea is occurs when during deep sleep the soft palate or the tongue touches the back of our throat. This stops air flow and thus stops oxygen from getting into the body. The lack of oxygen causes us to wake up just a little bit. We don't remember this happening but it stops rest. If this continues for a long time it can cause deadly health problems.

Sleep Apnea can be recognized by your dentist. If confirmed with a sleep study dentists can actually fabricate a special night-guard that can alleviate or improve symptoms. By holding the bottom jaw more forward we open the passageways that allow us to breathe. If we are breathing normally we are sleeping properly and resting properly. With proper rest we will remain healthy longer!