Oral Appliance Spotlight: Whole You™ Respire Blue

July 13, 2021

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 11:19 pm

Feeling exhausted in the morning and throughout the day, despite getting an adequate amount of sleep, is a common side-effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (also known as OSA). There are a lot of modern solutions available, but it’s important to find the solution that best fits your needs.

Sleep Rehab prides itself on providing non-invasive and non-surgical solutions for sufferers of OSA. Dr. Fedosky and his team of highly skilled medical professionals provide top-of-the-line products to get you back to a more comfortable life. This month, we’re highlighting an oral appliance, the Whole You™ Respire Blue.

Respire Blue | Whole You Whole You

This product is an alternative solution for something more robust like a CPAP machine. As a customized, personalized mouthpiece, it features a dual block design with interlocking wings. It works by keeping the airway open in any sleep position and allows for a wide range of mouth movements.

The Respire Blue has mesh support that is welded and placed inside the acrylic mouthpiece. This improvement offers one of the strongest dorsal fin designs on the market, it’s easily adjustable, and it has more room in the anterior area which allows the patient to open and close as they please. It is also open in the front to add comfort by increasing the tongue space allowing the patient to inhale and exhale more air per breath.

More details:

  • 4-Wing dorsal fin appliance
  • Dual-block design with more freedom for vertical mouth movement
  • Additional support for lateral movement
  • 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

It should be noted that the Whole You™ Respire Blue is not available for purchase on its own. A sleep test and diagnosis are required, which can be done at Sleep Rehab! Please fill out an appointment form here and we look forward to helping you soon.

Sleep Apnea and COVID-19

April 14, 2021

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 6:27 pm

It’s been a little over a year since the outbreak of the entirely too familiar COVID-19. We sincerely hope you and your loved ones have remained safe during this time, but the reality is that the disease impacted all kinds of people in different ways, and we sometimes don’t know why. However, with time and knowing what we know now, studies have come out that people diagnosed with Sleep Apnea are at a higher risk for hospitalization for COVID-19.

Why does having Sleep Apnea increase your risk of COVID-19 hospitalization?

Sleep Apnea is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), diabetes, older age and male gender, which are all risk factors for severe COVID-19. Researchers identified 445 individuals with COVID-19, and 38 (8.5%) of them with OSA of whom 19 out of 91 (20.9%) were hospitalized.

Of the patients requiring hospitalization for severe COVID-19, more than 1 in 5 had OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), which was shown to be associated with COVID-19 hospitalization independent from age, sex, BMI, and comorbidities. 

The researchers in the study concluded, “We believe that our finding may help in identifying high-risk individuals for severe forms of COVID-19 infection, and therefore screening for previous indications of OSA could be beneficial among individuals testing positive for the virus.”

Vaccines are rolling out and life is getting a little bit back to normal, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. If you suspect you may have undiagnosed Sleep Apnea, make an appointment to get a sleep test today so you can identify your risk factors early on and avoid hospitalization for COVID-19.

Is Sleep Apena Hereditary?

February 10, 2021

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 2:03 pm

A lot of health disorders originate from genetics, and you may be wondering if your Sleep Apnea is hereditary. It could be that you had a parent that struggled with sleeplessness and snoring and now that you’ve been formally diagnosed, it may have occurred to you that it could run through the family genes.

According to an article on healthline.org, “Research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea is about 40 percent attributable to genetics, which means it can be hereditary.” That is quite a large percentage, especially because the other 60 percent are attributed to environmental and/or lifestyle-related factors. In short, the more relatives you have with Sleep Apnea, the higher percentage that you will also have Sleep Apnea in your lifetime.

You may have children and are worried about passing Sleep Apnea along to them. The good news is that there is not a clear genetic link related to Sleep Apnea, but according to healthline.org, “Additionally, it’s been shown that obesity can have underlying genetic causes. Since obesity is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, this is an indirect way obstructive sleep apnea is hereditary.”

The important thing to know is that if you can keep your weight at a healthy number, the development or progress of this sleep disorder could subside. However, if you feel like you’ve tried everything and need a successful solution, at Sleep Rehab we offer a variety of non-invasive, non-surgical CPAP alternatives to treat Sleep Apnea.

You can’t choose your genes, but you can choose a solution to an inevitable problem, and we are here for you. Request an appointment at Sleep Rehab today.

Can Sleep Apnea Increase Your Chances of a Heart Attack?

January 5, 2021

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — drfedosky @ 9:21 pm

We won’t beat around the bush here, because coronary artery disease (a common cause of heart attacks) is a serious, and sometimes deadly, condition. So the short answer is yes, suffering from sleep apnea puts you at a greater risk of experiencing a heart attack.

But, why?

You may think it’s just a little snoring at night, but actually, being woken up multiple times throughout the night is not good for your heart. This is because when you stop breathing while you sleep, the sudden decrease in your oxygen levels causes strain on your cardiovascular system. Your blood pressure increases because your involuntary reflexes ultimately cause a micro-arousal, which elicits an accelerated heartbeat, resulting in high blood pressure.

Over time, having spiked blood pressure, low oxygen levels and increased CO2 leads to increased lifetime exposure to adrenaline. This causes stress on the heart and can lead to a heart attack, or even heart failure because too much exposure to adrenaline increases and damages your blood vessels over time.

The good news? There are effective treatments that can stop or even reverse these damages.

If your spouse or partner has let you know that you are gasping and waking up suddenly at night, it is time to seek treatment. The good news is, at Sleep Rehab, we have the tests and tools to successfully and non-invasively treat your sleep apnea. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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!

 

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!

Your Brain Without Sleep

March 3, 2020

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.

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.