Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Morning Headache, Sleep Apnea and CPAP Alternatives

Sleep Apnea is one of the main causes of morning headaches.  CPAP is usually the first treatment option for sleep apnea. but most patients don't use it.  Migraines, chronic daily headaches, cluster headaches and tension headaches are all associated with poor sleep.

CPAP is the Gold Standard for Treating Sleep Apnea.  It is a wonderful invention of  Professor Colin Sullivan  PhD, BSc (Med), MB, FRACP in Australia and it has saved thousand of lives and improved the quality of life for millions.

When CPAP treatment is successful it is amazing treatment but unfortunately it fails 60% of the patients who are prescribed CPAP.

The good news is that oral appliances are an excellent alternative to CPAP that are preferred by 95% of patients offered a choice.  It is so successful that even Professor Colin Sullivan who invented CPAP personally utilizes an oral appliance both for comfort and efficacy!

Information on Chicago Providers of Oral Appliance treatment for CPAP is available at the end of this post.  I have opened a Chicago North Shore office dedicated to treating Sleep Apnea, Snoring and TMJ disorders that is conveniently located on the Metra a very short walk from the Fort Sheridan Metra Station.
North Shore Sleep Dentistry
3500 Western Ave #100, Highland Park, IL 60035
847-533-8313

Almost every complaint patients have with CPAP can be improved or eliminated with a professionally fitted well designed appliance that is patient specific.

Failure of CPAP is almost 100% a patient compliance issue.  Patient complaints about CPAP include:

I HATE CPAP!  I Hate the Mask!, I hate the hose!

Claustrophobic feelings from the CPAP  mask and hose.

Dermatologic problems includung facial sores, ulcers and CPAP related acne.

CPAP noise is a complaint from both CPAP users and their bedmates.

Infections in the sinus regions from CPAP use.  (partially Cleaning issue)

Asthma issues from CPAP  (partially Cleaning issue)

Bronchitis from CPAP  (partially Cleaning issue)

Pneumonia from CPAP   (partially Cleaning issue)

Problems with travel related to CPAO

CPAP Mask Discomfort

CPAP Mask leaks

Headache, neckache and backache issues from CPAP related to sleep position,

Dry Mouth

Dry Eyes from CPAP mask leakage

CPAP inconvenience

Don't like cleaning mask and hose

Pain to travel with CPAP

REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUES WITH CPAP AND CPAP MASKS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT SLEEP APNEA BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND TREATED.

UNTREATED SLEEP APNEA CAN BE DEADLY RESULTING IN HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.  WHEN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTHONY SCALIA DIED IT IS SUSPECTED IT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF NOT USING HIS CPAP FOR ONE NIGHT!

One study has shown that patients with moderate sleep apnea patients who are not treated have a 36% decrease in 8 year survival compared to those who were treated.

Patients with untreated apnea aresix times more likely to have motor vehicle accidents and often have trouble at work, school and home.  Marital strife is common due to excessive daytime sleepiness and poor cognition in patients with untreated sleep apnea.

I have been treating sleep apnea for over 34 years.  When I first became an Assistant Professor at Rush Medical School back in 1985 the average patient was an older male usually weighing 250-600 pounds and Severely ill.

Over the last 34 years I did research at Rush Medical School in the 1980's until 1991.  I returned in the 1990's and treated patients at Rush Sleep Service until early this century.  I have taught Dental Sleep Medicine to hundreds of dentists in the US and Internationally.  My most recent course was at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital on February 29, 2016.  Other recent courses were at the International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics in both the US and Argentina.

Currently, most of the lectures I give are on the common developmental aspects of TMJ, Sleep Apnea, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and working to catch children as early as possible prior to permanent changes in physiological development and brain development/ maturation.

It is now possible to decrease and  prevent many of these problems by early epigenetic orthodontic / orthopedic treatment.  It is also sometimes possible to offer permanent cures of sleep apnea in adults by utilizing Epigenetic Orthodontic treatment with the DNA Appliance and the mRNA version of the DNA Appliance.

Today we know that sleep apnea affects old and young, male and female obese and non-obese patients and that it frequently affects children and infants and then carries with them through life.

Short Term memory loss is associated with untreated sleep apnea and when there is a family history of Alzheimers or Dementia it is recognized in can cause more rapid onset of symptoms at a younger age with more profound disease.

Fro Sleep Apnea Treatment in the Chicago Metropolitan area:

I practice in Gurnee, Il at Delany Dental Care.  847-623-5530
310 S Greenleaf, Gurnee 60031    www.DelanyDentalCare.com

In Highland Park   at 3500 Western Ave   847-533-8313

www.NorthShoreSleepDentist.com

www.ThinkBetterLife.com