Better Sleep for Better Health ~ Leila Chahine DMD
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow, resulting in decreased oxygen delivery to the body. Sleep apnea is essentially your body choking on itself and causing repeated episodes of partial or complete suffocation sometimes lasting a minute or more. These choking and suffocating episodes repeat constantly throughout the night causing a myriad of health complications including increased risk of stroke, heart attack and even death. The cause of this collapse in the airway is usually due to the soft tissues in the mouth , tongue or throat closing down and blocking airflow during sleep. The first sign of this is usually snoring which happens when you are attempting to breathe through a narrow airway. If left untreated snoring often escalates to full OSA where the narrow airway is now completely blocked. Nearly 1 in 4 adults over 30 are unknowingly suffering from at least mild sleep apnea.
This causes arousal and sleep interruption, which leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night’s sleep.
With many years of experience in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine, and as a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep medicine, Dr. Chahine will collaborate with your physician to fashion a suitable oral appliance that will enhance your health and social well being.
Are You at Risk?
- Do you snore loudly (louder than a person talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)?
- Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?
- Has your spouse or bed partner ever observed you stop or pause breathing in your sleep?
- Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
- Are you overweight or obese?
- Are you over 50 years old?
- Is your neck circumference greater than 16 inches?
- Are you male?
If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions please contact us at 203-744-1814
