Sleep Rehab Blog

Sleeping with Acid Reflux

November 11, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 10:35 pm

Many people experience the occasional acid reflux, or more commonly referred to as, heartburn. Acid reflux can happen for a variety of reasons including smoking, drinking alcohol, ingesting a large meal or even being overweight. Those who have experienced this uncomfortable and unsettling feeling know that in time it will pass and learn how to avoid it from happening in the first place. However, if you have ongoing symptoms of acid reflux, as in more than twice a week, you may be diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Photo credit: The Best of Health UK

GERD, a chronic form of acid reflux, can greatly impact your quality of sleep. Unlike occasional acid reflux, it can contribute to Sleep Apnea. There are a few reasons for this. One, because of your horizontal position, the reflux causes the contents of your stomach to rise as high as the throat. The acid from your stomach will cause an intense burning sensation and an unsavory awakening. Secondly, according to an article published on NCBI, “The prevalence of GERD has been shown about 58-62% of patients with OSA, however, these results may all be confounded by obesity. Apnea may increase trans-diaphragmatic pressure and decrease intra-thoracic pressure, favoring GERD.” To put it more simply, Sleep Apnea, which causes respiratory pressure to change, can make it easier for reflux to occur.

To help alleviate acid reflux, you can start out by propping up your pillow to sleep more at an angle and work with gravity to make it more difficult for the reflux to reach your throat. Another tactic is using over-the-counter neutralizing medications like Tums and Pepto-Bismol. However, neither of those is going to get rid of your Sleep Apnea. Sign up for an appointment today to get a handle on the problem before it worsens!

 

Problems with CPAP Machines & an Effective Solution

October 13, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 2:32 am

Did you know that one-third to 50% of adults who patients with a CPAP machine stop using it? There are also reports of patients that say they feel just as tired as they were before the CPAP therapy. What are some main complaints and issues with the CPAP and is there a way to avoid the CPAP all together?

 

CPAP Complaints

  • Feeling claustrophobic
  • Not feeling comfortable with the mask on
  • Difficult time adjusting to air pressure on the throat
  • Expensive
  • Loud
  • Difficult to carry around
  • Causes nasal problems

Solutions to a problem are only as effective as the amount of use they are receiving, so if half of the patients aren’t even using it, it’s not working.

Luckily, Sleep Apnea has alternatives to CPAP Machines that are more comfortable, less expensive and users report a longer use.

An Effective Alternative to CPAP:

  • Oral appliance
    • Similar to a mouthguard
    • Worn nightly
    • Holds the lower jaw forward instead of pressurized air inside of your lungs
    • Highly customized by the experts at Sleep Rehab to ensure comfortability

If you’ve been experiencing difficulty sleeping, been waking up more exhausted than usual and experiencing increased snoring, it may be time to come in for a consultation at Sleep Rehab. We have a team of highly-trained professionals that will help you get to sleep comfortably by using non-invasive or machine-oriented techniques, like an oral appliance. Contact us today!

3 Myths About Sleep Apnea

September 15, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea,Snoring — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 12:40 pm

There is so much information floating around the Internet, it’s hard to know what is true and what is false. When beginning your searches about symptoms regarding sleep apnea, you may have run across some scary, but not possibly quite true, information. At Sleep Rehab, our goal is to make you well informed and confident about treating your symptoms. So, let’s bust some myths about Sleep Apnea!

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Myth 1: Obesity is the main cause of Sleep Apnea.

Yes, there is a link between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and weight gain, as we wrote about in this blog post. However, there are several factors that can affect your breathing at night and obesity is just one of them. As concluded by the Lost Angeles Sleep Study Institute, “Weight is a factor in developing sleep apnea, as the fatty tissue in the back of the throat can collapse and block the airway as the muscles relax during sleep. However, even a well-conditioned athlete who has a large, muscular neck may have a similar problem. Even a thin person can have sleep apnea if he or she has a narrowed airway or structural abnormalities of the jaw, tonsils or adenoids, septum, tongue and soft palate.”

Myth 2: Snoring means you have Sleep Apnea.

Snoring is a common symptom of Sleep Apnea patients, but just because you snore does not mean that you have Sleep Apnea. Snoring is only a clue that Sleep Apnea may be a possibility. According to the Mayo Clinic, snoring can occur with alcohol consumption, having a narrow nasal airway, a family history of snoring, or being a man (men are more likely to snore than women).

Myth 3: A CPAP machine is the most effective treatment of Sleep Apnea.

A CPAP machine has been a popular treatment for Sleep Apnea patients for decades. It delivers air pressure to keep a person’s airway open. However, there have been issues surrounding the use of a CPAP machine including claustrophobia, dry mouth, skin irritation, and nasal problems. Thankfully, the medical community is always advancing and there are as effective, or even more effective, Sleep Apnea treatments and Sleep Rehab is always on the cutting edge. We offer easy-to-wear oral appliances that are a lot of like a mouthguard and much less intrusive than a CPAP machine.

 

We hope busting these myths about Sleep Apnea puts you on a more clear path to treating your symptoms of sleeplessness and snoring. When you’re ready, make an appointment to see a specialist at Sleep Rehab to get a better night’s sleep.

Sleeping Postion for Snorers

August 12, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea,Snoring — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 9:53 pm
When you turn in for the day, you probably don’t think much about what position you end up falling asleep. Maybe you move the pillow around to get comfortable, but you may not realize how you are sleeping is a subtle aid in your overall restfulness for the night. If you find yourself waking up feeling more tired than when you went to bed, it may be time to find a new sleeping position.

woman sleeping peacefully and smiling

Snoring? Try side-sleeping
If you snore, there is a chance you may be suffering from sleep apnea, which is the condition in which your airway gets blocked at night, ultimately restricting your breathing. In order to create better airflow, the best sleeping position to reduce snoring is side-sleeping. Curling up reducing you breathing too deeply, too. If this isn’t natural for you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can teach yourself to become a side-sleeper.

How do you change your sleeping position?
First, make sure you have a good mattress. If you can fall asleep without interruption of feeling uncomfortable, there is less of a chance to retreating to your old habits. Next, make sure you have pillows that can essentially contour your new sleeping position. For instance, hugging a body pillow can reinforce sleeping on your side and prevent you from turning over on your stomach. But most importantly, as with changing any habit, practice makes perfect. Constantly remind yourself to get back on your side if you wake up in the middle of the night in a different position. Have a spouse help keep you in the right direction, too!

Changing your sleeping position is just one way to try and reduce your snoring due to sleep apnea. If you have tried everything and still waking up listless and exhausted, contact Sleep Rehab today for a consultation. We’re here to help!

Weight and Sleep Apnea: Does One Cause the Other?

July 6, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 5:59 pm

Which comes first, weight gain from lack of sleep or Sleep Apnea caused by weight gain? Well, the truth is, it can be both. In fact, it can become a vicious cycle if not treated quickly. You may not be able to sleep well at night due to Sleep Apnea, and the exhaustion you experience from a restless night disrupts a healthy routine. It’s not new knowledge that carrying around extra weight comes with additional medical issues, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be one of them.

Why Weight Gain Causes Sleep Apnea

Over two-thirds of the U.S. population of the United States is now considered overweight or obese, and it’s estimated that three to seven percent of the U.S. population suffers from Sleep Apnea. So, just because you are overweight does not mean you will develop Sleep Apnea, but it does significantly increase your chances if you do have some additional pounds on you.

The reason for this is, that the excess fat that accumulates around the neck area can obstruct breathing, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea.

 

Why Sleep Apnea Causes Weight Gain

Not getting an adequate amount of sleep nightly not only makes you less attentive and reactive, but it can cause weight gain. Lack of sleep changes your hormone levels related to your appetite, and in the increase in hunger makes you eat more than you normally would or even need. Not waking up rested can also cause you to put off healthy habits like a morning jog. The last thing anyone wants to do when they are exhausted is go for a long walk.

 

So how do you stop this cycle from becoming worse and worse? Make an appointment for a consultation with our experts at Sleep Rehab. We have the right tools to help you sleep better and feel better.

Not Sleeping Well During the Pandemic? Try These 3 Tips

May 27, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 9:50 pm

As busy and sleep-deprived as our lives were pre-COVID-19, there have been mass accounts of sleep issues during this pandemic. Have you been experiencing trouble sleeping during the last two months? Well, rest assured (pun intended) that you’re not alone! Nothing could prepare us for the anxiety, uncertainty, and worry that comes with a global crisis.

However, getting adequate shut-eye with a rampant virus is going on is critical. Sleep boosts your immune system, strengthens your body’s defense system and can even aid in making vaccines (when it comes available) more effective.

In addition to positive effects for the body, a solid night’s rest can improve mood and brain function. We’re so used to making plans and constantly moving, so being asked to slow down and deal with an uncertain future can make you feel anxious and potentially depressed. In other words, we can use all of the mood enhancers we can get!

What can you do to get back to a night of healthy sleep?

Set your schedule.

Set a routine wake-up time even if you’re working from home or currently unemployed. It’s crucial to keep your body on a steady schedule. This also means making time to wind down before bed and going to bed around the same time every night.

Reserve your bed for bedtime.

Working from home means you can probably work anywhere in your house, but leave the work out of the bedroom. Your brain needs to be able to separate work from rest.

Stay active.

Make sure to get outside and go for a walk, jog or bike ride to release your mind of any anxiety and stress related to the pandemic. This will help you sleep better at night!

Like everything, this too shall pass. But in the meantime, take care of your mind and body. If you need additional help sleeping, contact Sleep Rehab for a consultation. We’re here for you!

Worried You Can’t Sleep for Your Sleep Test? Try These 3 Tips

March 3, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — drfedosky @ 9:25 pm

Young boy wearing device for sleep test

When you see a sleep dentist to have your sleep apnea treated, the first thing they’ll need to do is perform a sleep test. You’ll wear a special device at home that will measure your vital signs while you’re asleep in order to narrow down whether or not you have a sleep disorder. Of course, the test does have one weakness: what if you can’t fall asleep? It’s very common for patients to spend more time awake than usual when they’re concentrating too much on their need to sleep, and that could affect the results. The good news is that you can plan ahead. Read on to learn 3 tips for avoiding a sudden case of insomnia when you have a sleep test to complete.

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Your Brain Without Sleep

Filed under: Medical,Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 3:06 pm

The alarm goes off. You hit snooze. Can it really be time to get up already? After a night full of tossing and turning and barely getting a total hour of sleep, it’s going to be a rough day. But as much as you feel like you won’t be able to keep your eyes open during the day, it’s not just your body that is exhausted, your brain is too and you might not be as sharp as you need to be today.

In a study published on nature.com, researchers found that not getting an adequate amount of sleep at night makes it challenging for your brain cells to communicate effectively. When your brain cells can’t communicate effectively, it makes it more difficult to concentrate or focus.
The study focused on 12 individuals who were required to stay up all night. During the night, researchers monitored their brain activity by asking them to perform certain tasks like categorizing animals and objects. As the people became more exhausted, it became more challenging for them to perform the tasks, and their brain cells seemed to be slowing down.
“We were fascinated to observe how sleep deprivation dampened brain cell activity,” lead study author Yuval Nir, a sleep researcher at Tel Aviv University in Israel, said in the statement. “Unlike the usual rapid reaction, the neurons responded slowly, fired more weakly and their transmissions dragged on longer than usual.” 
When your brain cells slow down, it can take you more time to process information. The researchers compared the effects of lack of sleep to those of drunk driving. Delayed responsiveness, taking longer to realize what they are seeing, etc.
So next time you wake up exhausted and feel a dip in your performance at work or in your daily life, it’s time to get a wake-up call! Schedule a consult with Sleep Rehab today to sleep better tonight and live your most productive life tomorrow.

How Sleep Apnea Stops You from Having Sweet Dreams

February 5, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — drfedosky @ 9:50 pm

Woman snoring on white bed with sleep apneaDreams are part of the sleep cycle and are thought to be important to your mental and emotional health; if you haven’t been able to remember them lately, it might be a side effect of a serious sleep disorder. According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, only 43.2 percent of patients with obstructive sleep apnea are able to recall their dreams – and the reason most likely has to do with how the condition disrupts the quality of your rest. Read on to learn why you may need to have your sleep apnea treated before you can enjoy sweet dreams again.

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Can Sleep Apnea Affect My Other Medical Conditions?

February 4, 2020

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 12:20 am

A true Sleep Rehab patient story, originally published on YouTube

Mrs. Dillard wasn’t feeling very rested in the morning and was snoring more often than before, as reported by her husband. In addition to some allergies she was experiencing, she went in for a consult with her Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor. The ENT doctor, after a check-up, noticed some irregularities in her current medical condition thus recommending a professional sleep test by Sleep Rehab.  She and her husband both came into the Sleep Rehab office for Mrs. Dillard’s first sleep test, and sure enough, Sleep Apnea was diagnosed.

However, she wasn’t the typical patient that Dr. Fedosky usually sees, because of her lack of the usual symptoms – Mrs. Dillard wasn’t crippling exhausted upon waking, nor was her snoring out-of-control and unbearable. But, her Sleep Apnea was in fact, making her other medical conditions worse and there was no question that it needed to be fixed.

Sleep Apnea can worsen other medical conditions like, but not limited to:

  • Propensity for strokes
  • High blood pressure
  • Arrhythmia of the heart
  • Heart disease

So, by controlling Sleep Apnea, you can also potentially control these other medical conditions, as they can be linked.

We are happy to report that after working with Dr. Fedosky and the Sleep Rehab team, Mrs. Dillard was relieved of her former tiredness and even snoring (which makes for a very happy husband!) and her Sleep Apnea is now controlled.

See the full patient story of Mr. and Mrs. Dillard below! Do you identify with Mrs. Dillard and interested in having a sleep test performed? If you believe you may be experiencing unusual symptoms for Sleep Apnea or looking for a doctor that can help you, contact Dr. Fedosky at Sleep Rehab today.

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