Bad Sleep is Nothing to Yawn At

Sleepy, grumpy and dopey are more than just three of the seven dwarfs; they’re the least of the dangerous symptoms of sleep apnea, a life-threatening but treatable condition from which 28 million Americans suffer.Sleep apnea is a sleep breathing disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops while sleeping—up to dozens of times per hour. According to Alan G. Stern, DDS, a dentist in Ocean Township whose practice emphasizes restorative, cosmetic, and preventive dentistry along with the treatment of sleep breathing disorders, “Sleep apnea is a very serious problem that often goes undetected. People with sleep breathing disorders are at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, GERD, Alzheimer’s disease, learning disabilities and more.”

While there are factors that increase your risk for sleep apnea—including being overweight, being male, being 60 or older, smoking and a family history of the disorder, among others—it can happen to anyone.The good news is that it can be managed by dentists like Dr. Stern via a custom-fitted and closely monitored oral device that keeps your airway open while you sleep. This life-saving appliance is a more comfortable alternative to C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure), a mask-like machine also worn during sleep.“In our practice, we work with your doctor to solve your sleep apnea problem. Since many people see their dentist more often than they see their physician, we are in a unique position to carefully and inexpensively screen for this problem. Our training enables us to provide a proven, effective alternative to C-PAP, which is often not tolerated. When an oral appliance is a person’s best option, we coordinate our care with sleep physicians to get optimal results,” Dr. Stern says.Think sleep apnea might be an issue for you? Take the Epworth Sleep Score Test and call 732.483.8030 to get help now.

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Jillian Swartz

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Bellewether Branders

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