Ready to hit the airways for the holidays?  I travel a lot around this time as I have family 7 hours away in Portland area and also in Northern New York.  Every time we travel my hubby asks me to bite my tongue.  I see people lugging around backpacks with their C-PAP and getting extra screening from TSA as if they have never seen this contraption before. 

While many aren’t aware of the severity of the risks associated with untreated sleep apnea, many people do know that sleep apnea is a serious condition that requires proper treatment. Some may know that sleep apnea causes fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and many other symptoms, but not many people are aware that sleep apnea can cause long term cardiovascular health problems along with other health conditions. In fact, a recent study posted by the American Medical Association has found.a link between sleep apnea and dementia. The conducted study showed that sleep apneics are at twice the risk of developing dementia.

While many aren’t aware of the severity of the risks associated with untreated sleep apnea, many people do know that sleep apnea is a serious condition that requires proper treatment. Some may know that sleep apnea causes fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and many other symptoms, but not many people are aware that sleep apnea can cause long term cardiovascular health problems along with other health conditions. In fact, a recent study posted by the American Medical Association has found.a link between sleep apnea and dementia. The conducted study showed that sleep apneics are at twice the risk of developing dementia.

When patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea, physicians such as Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists frequently prescribe surgical treatment. For some patients, it provides relief, but for many others, it is ineffective.

I actually get teased from time to time by friends and family at how much sleep I actually get.  I am usually in bed at 9PM on a work night, even in the summer.  With a 5AM wake up time I feel like I owe it to my patients to be fully rested.  Which is why there is something to be said for the saying “The early bird gets the worm.”  The night owl sleep schedule often leaves us tired and fatigued during the day.  This is rule #1 of sleep hygiene.

The easiest way to find someone who would benefit from an oral appliance is to find people who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and won’t wear their C-PAP. But do you know how many tired people there are that haven’t been diagnosed? “It’s my thyroid”, “it’s vitamin D deficiency”, “it’s just snoring…” It’s no joke.

When I refer a patient for a sleep study the first question I get is, “Will my insurance cover this?” Most of the time YES! And of course the next question is “What is it like?”