Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) happens when the airway is blocked and causes sleep disruption. When this occurs, the tongue and soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse when you are sleeping. This produces pauses in your breathing and can occur from a few times to several hundred times a night and disturbs your sleep.
OSA is very serious and causes excessive daytime sleepiness, increases the risk of high blood pressure, awakenings with gasping and choking, fragmented, non-refreshing, light sleep, poor memory, irritability, personality changes, morning headaches and GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease). It leads to higher rates of stroke, arrhythmias, heart attack and even death.
Sleep Apnea is often linked to snoring. The following facts have been compiled by several sleep medicine groups.
- About 30 million (one in every eight) Americans snore.
- Snoring individuals have a higher likelihood of developing sleep apnea
- About 18 million Americans have sleep apnea.
- Men over age 65 have a 28% chance of suffering from sleep apnea.
- Up to 50% of people who have sleep apnea also suffer from high blood pressure.
- Sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Daytime sleepiness is a side effect of sleep apnea.
- Special dental appliances can improve and often eliminate sleep apnea.
- Insurance specialists estimate that sleep disorders add about $15.9 billion to healthcare.
In 2004, football great Reggie White passed away. It has been reported that sleep apnea contributed to his death. Experts now believe that OSA is be responsible for a high percentage of on-the-job injuries and automobile accidents.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious, life threatening condition and treatment is critical! Physicians have been prescribing the continuous positive airway pressure "CPAP" machine for many years to help people with OSA. The Academy of Sleep Medicine has established new practice parameters which validate the effectiveness of dental appliances as a viable treatment for people who have mild to moderate OSA, or are unable to comply with CPAP treatment. Today, CPAP is still indicated for people with severe OSA. If someone is unable to tolerate the CPAP, an oral appliance may be used. In some cases the two may be used in combination to reduce the air pressure of the CPAP.
Oral appliances are a safe, effective, non-invasive treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea and severe, chronic snoring. Special instruments are needed to determine if an oral appliance can help and also to determine where to reposition or stabilize the lower jaw, tongue to keep the airway open. There are many types of appliances and an examination will determine which will be the best treatment for you. Some are designed specifically for snoring while others treat both snoring and OSA. If it is determined that an oral appliance is the best treatment, you need to return for follow up visits so that your progress can be monitored and Dr. Jim can be certain that the appliance is doing what it is supposed to do.
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations? Use the following scale to respond to each question and total your score to determine your level of daytime sleepiness. 0 = never, 1 = slight, 2 = moderate, 3 = high chance of dozing.
- Sitting and reading: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Watching television: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Sitting in a public place: 0, 1, 2, 3
- As a passenger in a car for one hour: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Driving a car stopped for a few minutes: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Sitting and talking to someone: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Sitting down quietly after lunch without alcohol: 0, 1, 2, 3
- Lying down to rest in the afternoon: 0, 1, 2, 3
A score of 0 to 7: Unlikely abnormally sleepy.
A score of 8 to 9: Average amount of daytime sleepiness.
A score of 10 to 15: May be excessively sleepy, may want to consider medical attention.
A score of 16 to 24: Excessive sleepiness; consider seeking medical attention
If you think you may be suffering from a sleep-related breathing problem, you need to seek professional help. Dr. Jim and his team can give you a preliminary test to help diagnose if you need a more in depth study. If you would like more information about this problem, please call the office at (231) 744-6661.
Our bodies are constantly creating their own toxic byproducts as a result of the many toxins attacking us at a cellular level. When these build up in the body over time, these toxins can have an impact on our overall health.
So to rid ourselves of toxic burden, the lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel (or colon) work together to filter and eliminate toxin substances and waste, but because of the increasing number of both internal and external toxins to which our bodies are exposed, the cleansing organs can be overloaded. By addressing the seven channels of elimination this can help support the body's natural detox and cleansing process.
Keep these general guidelines in mind to help you when choosing from the many products at our three Health Hutt locations.
Step One: General Total-Body Cleanse - Includes all channels.
Step Two: Enhanced Specific Cleanse - Such as just the liver, lymph system, kidneys, etc.
Step Three: Microbial Cleanse - Intestine, parasites, colon, etc.
If this will be your first time cleansing or have already, Health Hutt recommends starting with a basic program that can be done with a general total-body cleanse formula that is designed to support the body's natural detox process and promote healthy digestive function.
With ongoing maintenance after each cleanse, Health Hutt suggests you use beneficial oils, enzymes and probiotic supplements. Increase your fiber intake as this will support in the cleansing process. Fiber works in the digestive tract to bind with toxins and help eliminate them via the stool.
Although exposure to harmful chemicals may be unavoidable in today's toxic world, there are simple things you can do every day to help you take back control of your body and your health. The right internal cleansing program, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can be the first step toward a lifetime of good health. Stop in today at one of the three Health Hutt locations!
This new technology allows the surgeon to make a much smaller incision and use a video camera to direct him as he performs the surgical procedure.
Today, laparoscopic surgery is used for a variety of abdominal surgeries including gall bladder, appendectomies and adhesions. In addition, the laparoscopic procedure is now being applied to colon, ventral hernias, inguinal hernias, weight loss and anti-reflux or GERD surgery.
If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, ask you doctor if you are a candidate for laparoscopic surgery. It may mean a shorter hospital stay with less post operative discomfort so you can get back to enjoying your daily life once again.