Florida Centers For Snoring And CPAP Intolerance

Sleep Apnea Seminar - Open to the Public

2009-09-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

re you interested in learning more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the remedies available to help bring you a better night of sleep? Dr. Hoffman will be conducting a free informational seminar to educate the public about the causes and consequences of Sleep Apnea, and to provide answers on how to obtain treatment for this potentially life-threatening ailment.

Please contact us at 305-933-3070 to learn more about dates and locations.

Commonsense On Sleep Apnea

2009-07-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Snoring, actually, isn’t comical from a medical standpoint. It is a symptom of so many disorders, physical and mental. Since I know far more about the physical side than the other—I come across it very often in my dental practice—I’ve limited it to that end.

This will be the easiest to read yet most informative and substantive blog on the Web that deals with obstructive sleep apnea and those who

• snore

• are obese

• has type-2 diabetes

• insomnia

• and daytime drowsiness.

You’ll want to know the solutions, and I shall provide them.

Although 36,000,000 Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, two-thirds (24 million) go undiagnosed. You will learn why so many of us fall through the cracks and what the federal government is doing to repair those cracks. There will be

• news and commentary on the latest treatments

• the latest scientific discoveries

• a nationwide directory of sleep practitioners

• sleep labs

• durable medical equipment sources

• universities and organizations

• a forum in which you can ‘Ask the Doctor.’

Our sponsors will discuss and display their wares, so consumers can choose which aids and treatment products will best suit the sleep apnea sufferer.

On a professional note, I applaud Congressman Gus Bilirakis, FL (R), who on May 25thintroduced House Resolution 384, ‘Sleep Apnea Awareness.’ The bill, if it becomes law, resolves that the House will support raising public awareness of sleep apnea and encourage all Americans to educate themselves and others about the potential treatments and consequences of sleep apnea.

It is a comprehensive resolution that contains 10 provisions starting with the word ‘Whereas.’ Its purpose is to raise awareness of sleep apnea and to encourage others to educate themselves, but falls short of having physicians make checking for sleep apnea a permanent part of their regular checkups.

The resolution reads, HRES 384 recognizes the importance of increased awareness of sleep apnea, and for other purposes.

• Whereas sleep apnea is a common condition that affects more than 12-million Americans, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health;

• Whereas there are several types of sleep apnea that cause people with this condition to repeatedly stop breathing throughout the night, often many times;

• Whereas sleep apnea is a chronic condition that disrupts sleep three or more nights each week, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness;

• Whereas sleep apnea becomes more common with age, and one-in-10 people over the age of 65 suffers from it;

• Whereas sleep apnea is more common in men than women, and more than half of the people with sleep apnea are overweight;

• Whereas sleep apnea can strike anyone, at any age, at any time, including children;

• Whereas untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and diabetes;

• Whereas untreated sleep apnea can also increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents and adversely impact the quality of life of those suffering from this condition in other ways;

• Whereas lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people; and

• Whereas the lack of public awareness of this serious condition leads to many undiagnosed and untreated cases: Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Representatives—

(1) supports raising public awareness of sleep apnea; and

(2) encourages all Americans to educate themselves and others about the consequences of sleep apnea and its potential treatments.

I urge you to write your Congressman to support this resolution’s passage. Include with your mail, a copy of this blog. Remember, sleep apnea robs victims of their good health, and, all too often, their lives.

I will return in a few days with a better-looking site and a stocking full of information and commentary. So, bookmark this page, and come back.

Glossary of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Terms

2009-07-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

GLOSSARY

—A—

Acetylcholine—an antidepressant that bind to multiple brain receptors.

Acrylic—a synthetic polymer used in making most dental devices.

Adapin (doxepin)—an antidepressant that bind to multiple brain receptors.

Adenoids—lumpy clusters of spongy tissue, high on each side of the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth.

Airway—a passageway for air to get to the lungs.

Alcohol—a depressant that makes it harder for the throat to stay open during sleep.

Ambien (zolpidem tartrate)—a sedative used for the short-term treatment of insomnia.

Ambien CR—a dual-layer prescription sleep aid for treating insomnia.

Anterior—front part.

Apnea—the suspension of external breathing.

Ativan (lorazepam)—a muscle relaxant.

AutoPAP (automatic positive airway pressure)—a mask like device used in sleep apnea treatment that measures breathing during sleep and adjusts automatically pressure levels.

Aventyl (nortriptyline)—an antidepressant that bind to multiple brain receptors.

—B—

Behavioral changes—changing habits that can bring on insomnia and sleep apnea.

Benzodiazepines—commonly prescribed depressant medications used for treating insomnia and sleep apnea.

Bi-level PAP—similar to a CPAP in treating obstructive sleep apnea, uses the same masks and hoses, but it allows the pressure for inhalation and exhalation to be different.

Brain activity—during sleep it is usual to pass through five phases, 1-4 and REM.

—C—

Cardiac arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat.

Chronic fatigue—that sluggish, drowsy feeling upon awakening from a restless sleep, but lasts until treated.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)—a machine with mask and hoses that blows are into airway at a prescribed pressure, the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

—D—

Daytime drowsiness—that sluggish, drowsy feeling upon awakening from a restless sleep.

Dental appliances—any device put in the mouth to facilitate the jaw and chin to let air into the airway without obstruction.

Dentist—a doctor who is trained and licensed to practice.

Deviated septum—an abnormal shift in location of the nasal septum that causes obstruction of the nasal passages.

Diphenhydramine—an antihistamine that treats allergic reactions involving the nasal passages.

—E—

Elavil (amitriptyline)—an antidepressant drug that blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and seratonin, making more of those substances available to act on receptors in the brain.

Environmental changes—changes of venues.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale—a questionnaire intended to measure daytime sleepiness.

Exercise—the movement of muscles, tendons and joints.

Exhalation—breathing out stale, spent air.

—G—

GABA receptor in the brain—a class of receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Gullet—the throat.

—H—

Halcion (triazolam)—a benzodiazepine derivative sedative and muscle relaxant.

Hallucinations—perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception.

Heart attack—usually myocardial infarction, when the blood supply to leave the heart is interrupted causing heart cells to die.

Histamine receptors—a class of G-protein coupled receptors with histamine as their endogenous ligand (from within a molecular group that binds to another chemical entity to form a larger complex.

Hoffman, Howard J., DDS—inventor of the Hoffmanhusher, an appliance similar to a mouth guard that assists in opening a blocked airway and aids getting proper oxygen intake by adjusting the position of the jaw and tongue, preventing snoring and apnea.

Humidifier—for the comfort of CPAP users, some machines come with humidifiers.

Hypertension—ultra high blood pressure, when systolic pressure is 140 or more and diastolic pressure is 90 or more, for an extended period of time

Hypochondriac—a person that unduly worries about having a disease or diseases.

—I—

Inhalation—breathing in fresh air.

Insomnia—a chronic inability to fall asleep, a symptom of sleep apnea.

Irritability—a state of extreme negative reaction to a stimulation of any kind.

—L—

Lower jaw adjustment device—a device that fits inside the mouth or fits around the head and chin to adjust the position of the lower jaw.

LUAP (Laser assisted UPPP)—laser throat surgery remove excess tissue from the uvula to enlarge the upper airways.

Lunesta (eszopiclone)—a prescription drug for sleeping, to treat insomnia.

—M—

Mandible—the jaw.

Mandibular myotomy—a procedure that involves cutting a rectangular piece of bone in the front portion of the jaw to which the tongue muscles are attached. At that point, the rectangular piece is pulled outward, rotated 90 degrees and attached so it overrides the defect produced by the cutting of bone, where it is reattached. This pulls the tongue forward six to 10 mm and eliminates the sleep-related obstruction.

Mandibular repositioning device—a device that open the airway by bringing the lower jaw or tongue forward during sleep.

Melatonin receptors in the brain—a hormone that regulates seasonal reproduction and pubertal development.

Menses—the monthly flow of blood and cellular debris from the uterus.

Microwaves—electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from one millimeter to one meter, or frequencies between .3 GHz and 300 GHz.

—N—

Nasal passages—not to be confused with nostrils, there are two passages in the nasal cavity. The entire nasal cavity is stimulated by autonomic fibers.

Nasal pillows—CPAP mask that covers only the nostril openings.

Nicotine—in low concentrations the substance acts as a stimulant, is addictive and the pharmacological and behavioral characteristics are similar to those that determine addiction to heroin and cocaine.

—O—

Obstructive sleep apnea—a common sleep apnea caused by obstruction of the airway.

Obese—a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health.

OPAP (Oral Positive Airway Pressure)—a dental appliance for patients who are unable to be compliant with a nasal mask due to claustrophobia, head aches due to chinstraps or head gear and complaints of mask leaks leading to eye irritation, sinusitis.

Osteotomy—a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen or change its alignment.

—P—

Palate—the roof of the mouth.

Pamelor (nortriptyline)—a drug used to elevate the mood of patients with depression.

Pharyngeal muscles—muscles in the throat and larynx.

Polysomnogram (PSG)—a multi-parametric test used in the study of sleep and as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine.

Powell, Nelson B., MD, DDS—an internationally-renown pioneer in the surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

—R—

REM sleep—Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes, classified into two categories: tonic and phasic.

Restoril (temazepam)—a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia symptoms.

Riley, Robert W., MD, DDS—an internationally-renown pioneer in the surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Rozerem (ramelteon)—a drug used to treat insomnia.

—S—

Salivation—the watery substance in the mouth, produced in and secreted from the salivary glands.

Sedation—a medical procedure involving the administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure with local anesthesia.

Shortness of breath—Shortness of breath is a worrisome symptom and has many acute and chronic causes.

Side effects—unintended consequences from medicines and surgeries.

Sinequan (doxepin)—used for the treatment of anxiety.

Sleep center data—results from an overnight’s testing generates the equivalent of 1,000 pages of data.

Sleep clinic—many major hospitals offer a sleep-disorders clinic.

Sleep diary—keeping records of snoring and how loud it is; how well sleep is; troubles breathing; the feeling after awakening.

Sleep disorder—a medical disorder of the sleep patterns.

Snoring—the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping.

Somnoplasty—a method for reducing habitual snoring by the use of low-power, low-temperature radio-frequency energy to create finely controlled clotting lesions beneath the lining of the soft palate and uvula.

Sonata (zaleplon)—prescribed for people who have trouble falling asleep at bedtime.

Stroke—the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain.

Suffocate—to deprive of oxygen.

Symptoms—subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance.

—T—

Thick neck (17” men, 16” women) —These persons are at risk for sleep apnea.

Tonsils—areas of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat.

Tracheostomy— a surgical procedure on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the windpipe.

Trazodone (desyrel) —a tetracyclic antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

Tricyclic antidepressants—used in the treatment of major depression.

—U—

UPPP (uvolopalatopharyngoplasty)—a surgical procedure used to remove excess tissue in the throat to widen the airway.

Uvula—the little piece of flesh that hangs down from the rear portion of the soft palate.

—V—

Valium (diazepam)—used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms.

—X—

Xanax (alprazolam)—used to treat anxiety and panic disorder.

Do You Snore, Have Insomnia, Feel Tired Each Day? You May Have a Sleep Disorder!

2009-07-10T07:55:00.001-07:00

Just about everyone at one time or another has awakened suddenly out of a sound sleep and gasped for air. But when that happens too frequently, chances are it is a sleep disorder. Now, not all sleep disorders are life-threatening or permanent, but some are and they require medical attention. One such sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea by definition is the cessation of breathing during sleep. To understand this, when the body sleeps and the mind dreams, the slow, constant breathing is disrupted by the events of the dream. Since the muscles are disengaged and at rest, the hard breathing or panting caused by the dream (perhaps you’re being chased, or lost in a familiar place and hurrying to find your way) causes the tongue, uvula or tonsils to slide back and block the airway. The supply of oxygen to the brain is cut off causing you to awaken and gasp for breath. When it happens too often, that is obstructive sleep apnea.

How Prevalent is Sleep Apnea?

2009-07-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

How prevalent is sleep apnea? The numbers are astounding.

At this moment 12-million Americans are diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea while twice that number (24,000,000) of Americans have it but do not know that.

How can that be? Because people are unaware or deny they have a sleep disorder. They’re convinced it’s nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure; and since they’re sure it’s not permanent, why involve a costly physician; besides your wife says you’re a hypochondriac, perhaps she’s right.

BUT … if left uncorrected, you may have a stroke and die, or have a heart attack and die, or suffocate and die.