Sleep Apnea
Here is an article that was published in May of 2006 on THE MEDICAL NEWS.COM WEBSITE concerning the sudden unexpected death of Green Bay Packer... Reggie White. Pay close attention to the last paragraph.
Sleep Apnea Ruled a Factor in Reggie White's Death
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes people to stop breathing repeatedly -- in some cases, hundreds of times -- during their sleep. Sleep apnea is a very common disorder and affects more than 50 million Americans. By the end of the decade, it is expected to affect one in every five adults.
"Shockingly, 95 percent of the population that suffers from sleep apnea is unaware that they are afflicted," says Dr. Bruce B. Baird, a dentist and founder of the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea (DOSA). DOSA was formed to improve the quality and duration of life for those suffering from sleep breathing disorders. "With proper diagnosis and treatment, Reggie's death could have been prevented," says Sara White, National Spokesperson for DOSA and White's widow. Reggie White, the minister of defense for the Green Bay Packers from 1993 to 1998, died at age 43 on Dec. 26, 2004.
"Sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality for those individuals who are afflicted," explains Dr. Baird. Risk factors include snoring, obesity or large neck circumference, and history of hypertension. Yet because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority of cases remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences, including death, as in Reggie White's case, explains Dr. Kent Smith co-director of DOSA.
Untreated, sleep apnea can cause many serious health problems including high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, headaches, memory problems, weight gain, increased risk of stroke and diabetes, gastric reflux and impotency. It also can cause excessive sleepiness during the daytime.
"Sleep apnea has even been linked to ADD and ADHD in children," states Dr. Smith. Fortunately, the disorder can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, including Oral Appliance Therapy, a device which is prescribed and fitted by dentists. DOSA is aggressively continuing its research into additional options.
"A 43-year-old is not supposed to die in his sleep," said Keith Johnson, spokesman for the White family. "It was not only unexpected, but it was also a complete surprise. Reggie wasn't a sick man ... he was vibrant. He had lots and lots of energy, lots of passion."
Reggie had tried conventional therapy to treat sleep apnea, which consists of wearing a facemask that delivers oxygen to the patient during the night. "Reggie was unable to wear the facemask because he was claustrophobic," explains Sara. Although considered one of the best treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, many patients (up to 87% in some studies) are unable to wear the facemask. Oral appliances, such as those prescribed by dentists, can be used for those who are mask-intolerant .They also can be used as a first-line therapy in treating mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, according to updated guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "If Reggie would have known about oral appliances he might still be alive today," says Sara White.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Under diagnosed and frequently dismissed simply as harmless yet annoying snoring, “obstructive sleep apnea” (OSA) is a very dangerous condition. If you or a loved one snore loudly at night, please have a sleep study done to rule out this potentially fatal condition.
How does Sleep apnea occur?
Snoring occurs when the airway or passage through which we breathe becomes partially blocked or occluded. An example would be a tongue that falls back as we drift off into deeper sleep. As the diameter or size of the airway passage is shrinking, the net result is a muffled sound secondary to vibrations in the throat, or snoring.
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In many situations, this compromise is minor and the body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen to cause little or no harm. However, this is a red flag as it could also be one of the early signs or a part of sleep apnea. Most all sleep apnea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption. A sleep study should be done to determine the seriousness of one’s condition.
Sleep apnea patients have a rough night and don’t even know it is happening. In a given night, these apneic events (when a patient stops breathing) can occur anywhere from 30 – 50 times, and in some people as many as 60 - 100 times per hour! Obviously, these individuals awake exhausted and spent each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep should be a replenishing award for each of us. Chances are that your spouse, other family members, or your coworkers, are keen to the problem. They either also suffer from your noisy snoring, or see the signs of a body which is not sleeping at night as it woefully attempts to navigate a given day. Recently, a condition known as "secondary snoring" has been researched, and has been shown to cost the bed partner of a snorer an average of 1.5 hours of sleep each night. Snoring, in fact, has also been shown to be a leading cause of divorce.
Nocturnal signs and symptoms associated with OSA include drooling, dry mouth, sleep restlessness, witnessed apneas, choking or gasping and sweating.
Q. Should you be worried?
Take a look at the common side effects of those that suffer from sleep apnea.
- heart attacks or irregular heart beats
- impotence
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- heartburn
- morning headaches
- dry mouth
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- impaired concentration
- depression
- decreased libido
- irritability
- chronic sleepiness … periods of nodding off while on the phone or at work
- learning or memory disabilities (children may be affected also).
It’s also important to also know that sleep apnea patients are at a much greater risk of having auto accidents. Other contributing factors for sleep apnea other than snoring would be those that are also overweight, have high blood pressure and or some physical abnormality in the nose (deviated septums), throat, or other parts of the upper airway. Certain studies also indicated that this condition may also have a genetic link.
A. Should you be worried…The answer is yes!!!
Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea, have a CPAP AND HATE IT!!!!
The gold standard for treatment for sleep apnea is presently with the CPAP machine. However, only a minority of CPAP owners are still compliant after one year. If you are one of the non-compliant, we can fabricate an oral appliance that will help open your airway and reduce the severity of your sleep apnea.
These appliances commonly know as Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) or Mandibular Advancement Devices (MRDs) reduce sleep apnea associated health risks without the need for surgery, medications, or other therapies. A custom oral appliance worn while sleeping, they hold the lower jaw forward and open, preventing the tongue and throat tissues from collapsing the critical airway. There is a 96% success rate (snoring) for people treated with these appliances.
There are various Mandibular Advancement Devices currently available that can be successfully be used for patients that snore or have mild to moderate diagnosed sleep apnea . Since each individual is different so it is important that the correct appliance be prescribed for every individual case.
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