Driving With A Sleep Disorder

An average of 1.3 million people die in the US every year as the result of a car accident, and fatigued driving is responsible for a lot of accidents.  People living with untreated sleep apnea or other sleep disorder may not realize how much it impacts their alertness and how dangerous it is to drive.  Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS can help you find relief from sleep apnea, so please schedule a visit for evaluation.

Patients who don’t seek treatment for their poor sleep may think they are used to feeling tired all the time and are unimpaired.  However a chronic lack of restful sleep is shown to have the same effects has being intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.  Excessive sleepiness causes problems with focus and attention, which you need in order to drive.  The lack of focusing and inability to react quickly makes high-risk drivers. If you are planning to drive somewhere but feel sleepy, take a minute to assess your alertness.  A short nap can even revive you for a 30 minute drive.  Caffeine is of course a temporary fix, but it can keep you alert for a short drive and prevent falling asleep at the wheel.  If you ever notice yourself dozing at the wheel, pull over to rest.  Don’t live with a sleep disorder! Come see Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS and start treatment to get your best sleep.

To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments provided at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Smoking With Sleep Apnea

Smoking will exacerbate any respiratory condition, and it is proven to cause snoring and lead to obstructive sleep apnea.  Patients struggling with sleep apnea should see Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS and her staff for evaluation. We can help patients find relief from sleep apnea, but quitting smoking is up to you!

Smoking causes upper airway inflammation, meaning the swelling causes the airway to narrow and disrupts the flow of air to the nasal passage and throat.  This causes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Cigarettes are highly addictive, and some smokers seek treatment for sleep apnea but continue to smoke. Smoking with sleep apnea not only puts more stress on the heart every day, but negates any treatment a sleep apnea patient is undergoing.

Habitual smokers may feel relaxed by one last cigarette for the day, but it actually creates more complications for restful sleep. Smokers can experience nicotine withdrawal overnight, causing more waking up and restlessness.  Quitting smoking cold turkey is very difficult, but even lessening the amount of cigarettes or avoiding smoking at nighttime can help you achieve more restful sleep.  Most smokers cannot quit on their own or on their first attempt, so don’t get discouraged!

To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments provided at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risks

Sleep apnea poses a high risk of dangerous health conditions in patients who are diagnosed with the condition. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when something partly, or completely, blocks the upper airway during sleep. The condition can reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, can provide treatment options to help manage obstructive sleep apnea and improve your quality of sleep and health.  

In obstructive sleep apnea, an individual’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Because the airway is blocked, a person may snort, take a deep breath, or awaken gasping for air. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. For people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, dental appliances that prevent the tongue from blocking the throat may be suggested. 

If you have questions or concerns regarding sleep apnea treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Two Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.  After scheduling a consultation with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS she will decide which treatment method will be best for you.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur.

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Sleep Apnea Solutions and Tips

Obstructive sleep apnea can be dangerous but it is treatable. Here in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS offers her patients with mild sleep apnea a snore guard.

A snore guard can help patients with mild sleep apnea or just snoring since these conditions often go hand-in-hand. The snore guard is like a mouth guard and works to position to jaw differently. Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse and cause a blocked airway. The snore guard repositions the jaw so that the soft tissue is no longer collapsed and there is an open airway.

In addition to the snore guard, there are some lifestyle changes that can help decrease the severity of sleep apnea. Keeping a healthy weight will reduce the excess weight put on the neck while sleeping. In addition, there are some sleeping habits to practice. First, sleep on your side rather than your back. This helps keep the airway more open. Secondly, avoid drinking alcohol or taking sedatives before bed. This depresses the body’s system and can become dangerous if the body does not react appropriately to apnea.

Sleep apnea can lead to life-threatening health complications. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.