Dr Gatti's Blog a Lawrence Dentist Reflections

I have just returned from the 19th Annual meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and it was fantastic! This was my fifth time in attendance and it still amazes me how much new information I gain as well as reconfirming much of what we are already doing. Again, a number of references were made tying in the prevalence of nocturnal bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea. This is something we have paid particular attention to over the last year and it has changed our protocol on night time appliances. A new area that I found very compelling is the possible link between snoring and plaque build up in the carotid arteries. The link between heavy snoring, obstructive sleep apnea and stroke is something that is at the forefront of my concern when I am dealing with our clients. Over the next weeks and months I will share more of the information I gained at this meeting, however I wanted to at least touch base with all of you about some of the highlights. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Today more than ever, the idea of a good night’s sleep is a fleeting one. Scrimping on sleep causes more than midday drowsiness and saggy eyelids – it may raise your blood glucose levels and cause other medical complications that I have written about in previous blogs. We don’t really know why the body needs sleep, however we do know that sleep is a dynamic, complex activity. The hypothalamus tells the body when to sleep, wake up, change blood pressure, help the immune system and regulate hormones for digestion. Every organ of the body, including the hypothalamus depends on sleep to function properly. Lack of sleep interferes with your ability to produce insulin, increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, heart attack and stroke. Also, sleepless nights increase the level of stress hormones in your body, causing the body to store fat and make it more difficult to loose weight.

In the past I have talked about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring causing sleep disruption for you and your bed partner. We have also discussed how these can be addressed with oral appliances. Now I would like to review some simple general rules to improve the overall quality of your sleep. I am talking about sleep hygiene. Bottom line is that your bed should not be an extension of your office or family room. The bed is meant for sleep and sex. I can give you some sound advice for sleep; as for sex, well…

Here are some sleep hygiene recommendations:

• Wind down for about 30 minutes prior to bedtime.
• Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Avoid exercising or eating within 2 hours of bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine after lunch.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Don’t eat or watch TV in bed.
• Try relaxing breathing exercises when you get into bed.
• After an estimated 20-30 min. of not falling asleep, get out of bed. Then, do something relaxing, like listening to music or light reading until you are sleepy enough to return to bed. Do not get on the computer.
• Don’t set up camp on the couch or you will begin to associate sleep with the couch and not your bed.

These are fairly straight forward and simple; however, developing good sleep hygiene and a consistent routine is very important to sleep and that is not a laughing matter.

What Is The Number One Cause Of Automobile Accidents On American Roads Each Year?

Answer: Tired driving. Sleep apnea is a huge contributing factor.

Sleep apnea deprives people of the rejuvenating sleep they need. Fragmented sleep filled with arousals, high blood pressure and increasing heart rate does not provide for the sleep your body requires. People suffering from sleep apnea are seven to twelve times more likely to be involved in an auto accident because of their excessive sleepiness. Did you know that sleeping only 4 hours results in equivalent reaction times to those of someone with a blood alcohol level of .08%?!

I fear that I am sounding like a broken record, however the amount of undiagnosed sleep apnea is simply scary, it is one of the most under©diagnosed life threatening disorders in our society today. Believe me, driving down the highway, knowing the statistics, takes much of the relaxation out of a trip.

So, for your health and the well being of everyone around us, take this seriously. If you snore and your bed partner has witnessed you gasp for air, talk to us or your physician. If you snore and disrupt those around you, realize that it may be a sign of a serious illness that can compromise your life. For more detailed information on the medical complications that occur with sleep apnea please see Snoring and Sleep Disorders under Client Services on my main website.

Simple snoring can have a similar effect on your bed partner. Whenever I treat someone who snores, I feel like I am doing a 2 for 1 deal. The effect on the bed partner can often times be more dramatic than on the snorer. It becomes much more than being able to sleep in the same bed © although that is not a bad result either.