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Night & Day Sleep Services
manages sleep labs in various hospitals. Each sleep lab contains private rooms and bathrooms. Most rooms have full-size temperature sensing foam beds, nightstands, lamps, and televisions.
Our services include:
- Sleep Studies
- CPAP / BiPAP Titration Studies
- Fatigue Studies To learn more, please visit
www.nightanddaysleep.com. |
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New Techniques Offers Snore No More Cure For Some
If you awake in the morning feeling tired or exhausted, if you experience daytime drowsiness, or if your snoring is proving
disruptive to family life, you have reason enough for concern, but studies also show that problem snoring can prove symptomatic of a more serious medical condition.Who Snores and Why
Surprisingly, almost half of us snore. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, 45% of normal adults are occasional snorers. Habitual or problem snorers account for 25%, the
Academy reports, and these are the individuals who tend to have underlying sleep disorders. If you are male and overweight, chances are you are more likely to
develop a habitual snoring problem that will grow worse with age. Most often the cause of snoring is simple. Obstruction to the flow
of air through the nose as seen with a deviated nasal septum or polyps can cause snoring. Also, redundant tissue at the back of the mouth and nose can cause an interruption to the free flow of
air through these passages. Specialists in the young and rapidly evolving science of sleep disorders explain that a long palate and uvula are usually the culprits.  At the end of the roof of the mouth the soft tissue of the palate spans across the back of the throat and separates it
from the opening to the nose. Attached to its distal end is the "bell" like uvula. As those structures dangle in the airway, they can vibrate particularly during the relaxed
state of sleep causing the irritating and disturbing noises of snoring.
If noisy breathing proves to be the only problem, simple and quick new procedures are proving to be effective cures.
Unfortunately, not all snoring problems are simple and doctors need to rule out more dangerous sleep disorders including sleep apnea. Click here to find out more about snoring.Evaluating Snorers for Sleep Disorders
Snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea which
disrupts breathing and poses a risk to life. Sleep specialists suggest an initial screening that includes the taking of an in-depth medical history accompanied by a physical examination.
History taking is aided by questioning the snorer's bed partner. Items explored include the patient's medical condition and the medications being taken, weight gain, alcohol intake and sleeping
position. Daytime sleepiness is also explored. The degree and type of snoring is detailed to determine the severity of the problem and to look for sleep apnea. The physical examination will
also include a detailed ear, nose and throat exam to look for contributing nasal conditions, the shape of the palate and the voice box.
Based on the exam's results, some snorers may be referred for further evaluation with a sleep study. While patients sleep, a painless polysomnogram test monitors their brain waves, breathing
patterns, heart rate, oxygen level and muscle movements. In the event that sleep apnea is diagnosed, appropriate treatment
can be planned. This starts by avoiding causative factors such as alcohol, sedatives or heavy meals late in the day. It may involve weight loss and techniques to change the snorer's sleeping
position. The use of oral devices may be tried to keep the airway open. It will also include the use of Continuous Positive Airway
Pressure (CPAP). However, the discomfort of these treatments and the need to sometimes use them for the rest of one’s lives makes the compliance rate very low. Therefore, some patients
end up choosing a surgical option. This may include surgery on the nose, such as a submucous resection and turbinectomies, surgery on the palate and tonsils, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
(UPP), or surgery on the base of the tongue. Laser Lightens Treatment for Problem Snoring
If snoring proves not to be sleep apnea, but the simpler problem
of excess tissue, you will most likely be an appropriate candidate for laser treatment. Laser assisted uvulopalato-plasty (LAUP) was introduced in
Europe and brought to this country several years ago. Thousands of treatments have been performed with excellent success in the reduction or eliminaiton of snoring.
LAUP is performed in an office chair under local anesthesia, similar to that used for dental procedures. During each 15 minute treatment, a focused beam of laser light is used to vaporize
excess tissue from the uvula and to resculpture the soft palate. Small incisions are used because the technique relies on natural healing process to elevate and tighten the palate. The snorer
usually requires two to three treatments before snoring is eliminated. Most patients return to work within a day or two. A sore throat
can be expected for several days afterwards which is controlled with analgesics. The Pillar ® Procedure.
A minimally invasive treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Now there's a simple, safe, minimally
invasive treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unlike other painful and invasive surgical procedures, the Pillar
® Procedure is a simple treatment that your doctor can perform in a single, short office visit or in
combination with other procedures.During the Pillar ®
Procedure, tiny polyester implants are placed into the muscle of the soft palate. Over time, the implants, together with the body's natural fibrotic response, add structural support to and
stiffen the soft palate. This structural support and stiffening reduce the tissue vibration that can cause snoring and the palatal tissue collapse that can obstruct the upper airway and cause
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Visit www.pillarimplant.com for detailed informationWhat is the TMJ?
You may not have heard of it, but you use it hundreds of times every day. It is the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ), the joint
where the mandible (the lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. A small disc of cartilage separates the bones, much like in the knee
joint, so that the mandible may slide easily; each time you chew you move it. But you also move it every time you talk and each time you swallow (every three minutes or so). It is, therefore, one
of the most frequently used of all joints of the body and one of the most complex. You can locate this joint by putting your finger on the triangular
structure in front of your ear. Then move your finger just slightly forward and press firmly while you open your jaw all the way and shut it. The motion you feel is the TMJ. You can also feel the joint
motion in your ear canal. These maneuvers can cause considerable discomfort to a patient who is having TMJ trouble, and physicians use these maneuvers with patients for diagnosis.
How does the TMJ work?
 When you bite down hard,
you put force on the object between your teeth and on the joint. In terms of physics, the jaw is the lever and the TMJ is the fulcrum. Actually, more force is applied (per square foot) to the joint
surface than to whatever is between your teeth. To accommodate such forces and to prevent too much wear and tear, the cartilage between the mandible and skull normally provides a smooth surface, over which
the joint can freely slide with minimal friction. Therefore, the forces of chewing can be distributed over a wider surface in the joint space and minimize the risk of injury. In
addition, several muscles contribute to opening and closing the jaw and aid in the function of the TMJ. Symptoms:
- Ear pain
- Sore jaw muscles
- Temple/cheek pain
- Jaw popping/clicking
- Locking of the jaw
- Difficulty in opening the mouth fully
- Frequent head/neck aches
How does TMJ dysfunction feel?
The pain may be sharp and searing, occurring each time you swallow, yawn, talk, or chew, or it may be dull and constant. It
hurts over the joint, immediately in front of the ear, but pain can also radiate elsewhere. It often causes spasms in the adjacent muscles that are attached to the bones of the skull, face, and
jaws. Then, pain can be felt at the side of the head (the temple), the cheek, the lower jaw, and the teeth. A very common focus of pain is in the ear. Many patients come to
the ear specialist quite convinced their pain is from an ear infection. When the earache is not associated with a hearing loss and the eardrum looks normal, the doctor will consider the
possibility that the pain comes from a TMJ dysfunction. There are a few other symptoms besides pain that TMJ dysfunction can cause. It can make popping, clicking, or grinding
sounds when the jaws are opened widely. Or the jaw locks wide open (dislocated). At the other extreme, TMJ dysfunction can prevent the jaws from fully opening. Some people get ringing in
their ears from TMJ trouble. How can things go wrong with the TMJ?
In most patients, pain associated with the TMJ is a result of displacement of the cartilage disc that causes pressure and
stretching of the associated sensory nerves. The popping or clicking occurs when the disk snaps into place when the jaw moves. In addition, the chewing muscles may spasm, not function
efficiently, and cause pain and tenderness. Both major and minor trauma to the jaw can significantly contribute to the development of TMJ problems. If you habitually
clench, grit, or grind your teeth, you increase the wear on the cartilage lining of the joint, and it doesn't have a chance to recover. Many persons are unaware that they grind their teeth,
unless someone tells them so. Chewing gum much of the day can cause similar problems. Stress and other psychological factors have also been implicated as
contributory factors to TMJ dysfunction. Other causes include teeth that do not fit together properly (improper bite), malpositioned jaws, and arthritis. In certain cases, chronic
malposition of the cartilage disc and persistent wear in the cartilage lining of the joint space can cause further damage. What can be done?
Because TMJ symptoms often develop in the head and neck, otolaryngologists are appropriately qualified to diagnose TMJ problems. Proper diagnosis of TMJ begins with a detailed history
and physical, including careful assessment of the teeth occlusion and function of the jaw joints and muscles. If the doctor diagnoses your case early, it will probably respond to these simple, self-remedies:
- Rest the muscles and joints by eating soft foods.
- Do not chew gum.
- Avoid clenching or tensing.
- Relax muscles with moist heat (1/2 hour at least twice daily).
In cases of joint injury, ice packs applied soon after the injury can help reduce swelling. Relaxation techniques and stress reduction, patient education, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle
relaxants or other medications may be indicated in a dose your doctor recommends. Other therapies may include fabrication of an occlusal splint to
prevent wear and tear on the joint. Improving the alignment of the upper and lower teeth and surgical options are available for advanced cases. After diagnosis, your otolaryngologist may
suggest further consultation with your dentist and oral surgeon to facilitate effective management of TMJ dysfunction. |
