We spend 25-30% of our life in bed with the expectation that we may sleep. Everyone knows we need rest, but there is much more that happens during restful sleep.  Blood sugar is regulated while we sleep. Hormones are replenished including growth and hunger hormones as well as the others you may be aware of.  Our immunity system is rejuvenated while we sleep; sick people need their sleep. Many of life’s functions are regulated when we are in restful sleep. That begs the question do we sleep restfully?  Frequently when several of our bodily functions are not responding normally the doctor will suggest a sleep study.  What! A sleep study for high blood pressure, or obesity, diabetes, heart arrhythmias, depression, erectile dysfunction or poor memory? Yes, poor sleep could be the root of any of these conditions especially when they do not respond to typical treatments.  During a sleep study several things are monitored including sleep its self.  What stage of sleep are you in and for how long? How much do you move around? What position are you in? Are you breathing regularly or do you stop breathing and the oxygen level goes down? How fast is the heart beating, and what is the blood pressure?  All of these questions and much more are answered in a sleep study. Your problem could have a simple drug free solution.  You or someone you care for may need a sleep study! If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, or migraines   call for a complimentary in-office evaluation!
Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.

For those who have regularly followed this column you are aware of the various medical conditions that have been positively linked to or caused by sleep apnea. Recently I have written about sleep apnea increasing the risk of diabetes and complicating the blood sugar balance. In a recent NIH study it was reported that there is a direct correlation between sleep apnea and stroke. In their study surviving stroke victims were tested for sleep apnea. The startling results showed that 2 out of 3 surviving stroke victims had sleep apnea. The risk of stroke is definitely much higher for apnea patients than for the general population. In addition to massive strokes prolonged lowered levels of oxygen from apnea causes the blood vessels to become smaller and restrict the blood flow to the brain causing mini-strokes. For those with sleep apnea and an increased risk of stroke treatment of the sleep apnea could be very beneficial. Call 1-866-612-5330 for a complimentary consumer guide to the treatment of sleep apnea and a free copy will be sent to you. If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, or migraines call for a complimentary in-office evaluation!

Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.

Recently I have written concerning the link between sleep apnea and diabetes, cancer, depression, and now insomnia.  People with insomnia may now have one more thing to keep them up at night. A brand new piece of health news reports that insomniacs face a higher risk of hypertension. High blood pressure is, of course, a serious risk factor for heart disease. Researchers in Detroit discovered that the prevalence of hypertension was greater in insomniacs compared to normal sleepers. The spike in blood pressure is linked to the number of times you wake up during the night, as well as your “sleep latency.” This is a term describing how long it takes you to transition from full wakefulness to sleep. In the study, the longer it took people to fall asleep, and the more times they woke, the more severe their hypertension. Frequent awakening or arousal and high blood pressure is very common in sleep apnea. If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, or migraines   call for a complimentary in-office evaluation!
Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN for sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.

For those who have regularly followed this column you are aware of the various medical conditions that have been positively linked to or caused by sleep apnea.  Last week I wrote about sleep apnea increasing the risk of diabetes and complicating the blood sugar balance.  I never thought I would be telling you that sleep apnea can be the cause of cancer.  More than ten studies have linked the increased cancer rate to sleep apnea. Recently in the news a study from Wisconsin reported a 5x increase in the cancer death rate in sleep apnea patients.  The consensus of opinion is the decreased oxygen to the tissues from the apnea causes an increased number of small blood vessels throughout the body which feed the body tissues including the cancer allowing the cancer to grow faster.   For those with sleep apnea and an increased risk of cancer treatment of the sleep apnea could be very beneficial.  Very few conditions or behaviors contribute to a 5x increase in medical conditions.   Call 1-866-612-5330 for a complimentary consumer guide to the treatment of sleep apnea and a free copy will be sent to you. If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, or  migraines   call for a complimentary in-office evaluation!
Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN for sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.

It seems the sleep apnea patient is the last to know they have sleep apnea.  Their companion tells them they snore like a freight train and it makes them nervous when they stop breathing.  The snoring person claims they sleep well, but they are usually tired, forgetful, hungry, gaining weight, and becoming depressed.  The real truth is there’s likely a sleep disorder that needs to be identified and treated. I observed  this week the Health & Wellness Sleep Institute is having a free in office consultation these next few days. A real sleep evaluation could save a loved one’s life. An astonishing large number of medical conditions are caused by poor sleep. Get the facts.  When sleep apnea is diagnosed one of the treatment choices will be the use of an oral appliance rather than the air pump (CPAP.)  Success treating sleep apnea and patient acceptance with the oral appliance is very high. If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea call for a complimentary in-office evaluation!
Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN for sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com. 

The two most frequently asked questions by my patient are: Why didn’t someone tell me there was a choice of an oral appliance or CPAP for my sleep apnea?  The answer to that question is: You will have to ask them why they did not give you a choice.  The second question is: Can I get completely rid of my CPAP?  My answer is: Usually patients can be treated without the use of the CPAP.  My sleep apnea patients come in two varieties.  The most common is the patient who has rejected the CPAP machine and are quite simply not being treated and are at great risk.  For them it is a matter of trading an unsuccessful treatment for a good treatment.  The second group of patients is using the CPAP and wish they could get rid of the CPAP.  The patients have difficulty believing there is another treatment that will completely replace the CPAP and effectively treat their sleep apnea.  This oral appliance alternative is FDA registered, and has been very well accepted with great results. If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea come see us at the health fair or call for a complimentary office evaluation! Call The TMJ Sleep Center at 234-PAIN concerning sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com. 

A real interesting question!  This is a little like asking who wants free chemo therapy or free radiation therapy.  Yes, the treatment could be extremely beneficial, but who really wants it?  The gold standard treatment for snoring and sleep apnea has become a continuous positive air pressure system (CPAP) that forces air into the throat and lungs overcoming the closed airway and allowing quiet continuous breathing. There should be no stoppage of breathing and no snoring.  Free breathing is very desirable, but wearing an air mask which is attached by a hose to a noisy air pump is not something any “normal” person would look forward to. Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea are usually offered the one choice of wearing the CPAP.   More than one half of those patients when given the choice choose not to be treated.  Unfortunately patients are given only one alternative CPAP which is unacceptable to most patients.  The good news is there is another choice!  Few are aware of an available appliance that will aid in opening the airway and very effectively treat the sleep apnea.  This treatment has been around for more than twenty years and I have been providing this treatment since 1996.  Success is very high.  Patient acceptance of treatment is good.   If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea call for a complimentary evaluation!   Call The TMJ Sleep Center at  234-PAIN concerning sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com. 

A real interesting question!  This is a little like asking who wants free chemo therapy or free radiation therapy.  Yes, the treatment could be extremely beneficial, but who really wants it?  The gold standard treatment for snoring and sleep apnea has become a continuous positive air pressure system (CPAP) that forces air into the throat and lungs overcoming the closed airway and allowing quiet continuous breathing. There should be no stoppage of breathing and no snoring.  Free breathing is very desirable, but wearing an air mask which is attached by a hose to a noisy air pump is not something any “normal” person would look forward to. Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea are usually offered the one choice of wearing the CPAP.   More than one half of those patients when given the choice choose not to be treated.  Unfortunately patients are given only one alternative CPAP which is unacceptable to most patients.  The good news is there is another choice!  Few are aware of an available appliance that will aid in opening the airway and very effectively treat the sleep apnea.  This treatment has been around for more than twenty years and I have been providing this treatment since 1996.  Success is very high.  Patient acceptance of treatment is good.   If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea call for a complimentary evaluation!   Call The TMJ Sleep Center at  234-PAIN concerning sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, & migraines.   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.

I regularly use Cat Scan (CT) images to see the patients airway and know where the obstruction of the air is located.   Most snorers and sleep apnea patients breath through their mouth as they sleep and make lots of noise.  The snoring sound is usually coming from the throat.  The tongue falls back in the throat as they sleep and blocks the air.  As the air is blocked   the snoring sound develops and in apnea patients the throat restriction completely stops the air from moving until the person arouses and gasps for air and the episodes starts all over again.  The obstruction of air continues repeating itself many many times through the night.  I place the lower jaw into a treatment position and take a second CT image to again evaluate the size of the airway.  When my jaw positioning increases the available airway I recommend making an oral appliance (OA) to treat the snoring and sleep apnea by wearing an oral appliance.  The treatment is well accepted. I have treated hundreds of cases.  Patients and partners are relieved to get a good night’s sleep.    If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea call for a  complimentary evaluation!   Call The TMJ Sleep Center concerning sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches, pain, migraines. Call 234-PAIN,   drdwight@thetmjcenter.com.