Complications Caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can impact not only your sleep but your day-to-day life. If you feel overly tired and can’t seem to wake up, even after you have slept a full night, you may have sleep apena. Contact Dr. Lee & her team for help.

Here are some of the medical & non-medical problems caused by untreated OSA:

·       increased  risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and/or atrial fibrillation

·       increased  risk of diabetes

·       liver problems

·       headaches, impotence, and weight gain

·       memory problems and depression

·       daytime fatigue and work-related driving accidents

These are just a few of the side effects that can impact you. Dr. Anna Lee & her team can help you get your life back.

Who is at Risk?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children.  Men are more likely than women to have sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can occur at any age, the risk increases as you get older.  A family history of sleep apnea also increases the risk for the condition.

Risk factors:

·       overweight, 4 times greater risk of sleep apnea than those with normal weight

·       being male, over 40 years old

·       being older

·       family history

·       small airways in the noses, throats, or mouths are more likely to have sleep apnea

·       allergy problems, nasal congestion

·       use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers      

·       smoker

*Small children who have enlarged tonsil tissues are at risk for sleep apnea. Children who are overweight also be at risk for sleep apnea.

Untreated pediatric sleep apnea can lead to mood problems, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, poor school performances, angry and hostile behaviors.  Children also have an increased risk of later cardiovascular diseases.

Pediatric OSA is usually and most effectively treated by surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids.

For more information on sleep apnea and how to treat it with a dental device, contact Dr. Anna Lee.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

“Sleep apnea can be caused by multiple factors. Finding out why you have sleep apnea is as important as what course of action you have to treat sleep apnea,” says Dr.Anna Lee.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax. When the muscles relax, the airway narrows and prevents air from flowing into and out of the lungs. The lack of air flow lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and triggers the brain to disrupt the sleep. This disruption helps to reopen the airway and normal breathing starts again, often with a loud snort or choking sound.

The snoring, choking or gasping sound can repeat 5 to 30 times or more each hour, all night long.  These disruptions impair sleep quality and can trigger the release of stress hormones.  These stress hormones raise the heart rate and increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).

For more information on sleep apnea, contact Dr. Lee and her team today!

Signs & Symptoms

One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is loud and chronic, ongoing snoring.  Pauses may occur in the snoring.  Choking or gasping may follow the pauses. Another common sign of sleep apnea is fighting sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving.                                                                

 Other signs and symptoms:               

·       morning headaches

·       memory or learning problems, not able to concentrate

·       irritable, depressed, mood swings, personality changes

·       wake up frequently to urinate

·       dry mouth or sore throat when wake up

*Note: Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

*Note: Not everyone who has sleep apnea snores.

Sleep apnea can impact more than just your sleep. It can decrease your longevity, cause depression and decrease your chance of promotions.

For more information on sleep apnea, contact Dr. Lee & her team today.

Sleep Apnea

                                                  

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts while the patient is asleep.  There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and complex.                        

 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.  Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of the obstructive and central sleep apnea.  Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. In most cases the sleepers are unaware of these breath stoppages because they don’t trigger a full awakening.

It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea undiagnosed.  Untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. OSA is also associated with type 2 diabetes, liver problems, depression and daytime fatigue.

OSA can strike people of any age, including infants and children, but it is most frequently seen in men over 40, especially those are overweight or obese.

For more information, contact Dr. Lee & her team today.

What is Pulpotomy?

A pulpotomy is a dental treatment performed when deep decay has reached the pulp of the tooth.  The treatment is usually performed to save the tooth from being extracted. Extracting a baby tooth before it is ready to exfoliate (fall out) can affect the way the permanent teeth come in and may cause problems with the child’s occlusion (bite) in the future.

After a pulpotomy procedure is completed the baby tooth can be restored with a filling or a crown.  The most common type of crown restoration is a stainless steel crown and it is the least expensive. 

Parents play an important role in early detection of decay.  If you suspect that your child may have tooth decay, call Dr. Anna Lee for an examination. 

Remember early diagnosis and regular dental check-ups will prevent oral health complications.  Don’t wait; call today 626-335-5114, for a dental check-up.

Are Composite Fillings Right for Me?

There are different types of fillings, and a variety of factors will be considered before a recommendation is made on the best material for you or your child. Dr. Anna Lee many times recommends a composite filling which can be used to restore front and back teeth, but here are the facts in order for you to decide which one may be right for you or your child.

Advantages:

·      Strong and durable

·      Tooth colored

·      Single visit

·      Minimal tooth reduction

Disadvantages:

·      Slightly higher costs

·      May leak over time

·      Teeth may be sensitive

If you or your child has a cavity and you are not sure about which type of filling you want to use, contact Dr. Lee & her team to discuss your particular concerns.