Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns | National Sleep Foundation – Information on Sleep Health and SafetyPosted using ShareThis

You Snore. Your Bed Partner says you keep him/her up all night. How bad do you really snore?
Take this snore score test from the AWAKE group and see how you rate with other snorers.
Test and Information found below from http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/snorescore.html.

WHAT’S YOUR SNORE SCORE?
Your answers to this quiz will help you decide whether you may suffer from sleep apnea:

Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?
 Yes  No

Have you ever been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
 Yes  No

Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?
 Yes  No

Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours?
 Yes  No

Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
 Yes  No

Do you often have problems with memory or concentration?
 Yes  No

If you have one or more of these symptoms you are at higher risk for having obstructive sleep apnea. If you are also overweight, have a large neck, and/or have high blood pressure the risk increases even further.

If you or someone close to you answers “yes” to any of the above questions, you should discuss your symptoms with your physician or a sleep specialist. Or ask the American Sleep Apnea Association for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Different treatment options exist; which is right for you depends upon the severity of your apnea and other aspects of the disorder. Talk to your doctor about choices. Untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can be extremely serious and cannot be ignored.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, can help you choose Oral Appliance Therapy as a treatment option for your snoring and sleep apnea. Visit www.TiredofSnoring.com for more information or call our Naperville Sleep Office, 1-800-SNORING, to schedule your consultation and to sleep!

Let Sleep Work for You | National Sleep Foundation – Information on Sleep Health and SafetyPosted using ShareThis

Lack of Sleep and Health Problems | National Sleep Foundation – Information on Sleep Health and SafetyPosted using ShareThis

5 Surprising Signs You’re Sleep Deprived
Are you a healthy sleeper? How to tell if skimping on your Zzzs is hurting your health—and an energizing plan to get the rest you need.
By Kaitlin Bell, Prevention
article found at: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sleep-disorders/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100254292&gt1=31019

Our bodies give us plenty of signals when we’re tired, but some of us are so used to being sleep deprived that we remain oblivious to how impaired we really are. Sleep debt isn’t something you can pay off in a weekend, researchers say—it can take weeks of building up restorative sleep habits. In the meantime, here are some signs you might be sleep deprived, and temporary fixes while you get your sleep schedule back on track.

1. You’re flummoxed by even simple decisions

You’re up late one night booking your next vacation, and even though you know the dates and destination, you’re overwhelmed by minor details. Should you get a refundable ticket? Window or aisle seat? Rent a car now or later? When you’re tired, you’re less able to distinguish between important and irrelevant information, such as your seat assignment, according to Sean Drummond, Ph.D., a sleep researcher at the University of California, San Diego. The result: Even the simplest decision takes on exaggerated importance.

Tired people also take riskier gambles to maximize results (Maybe if I wait until the last minute, the ticket price will go down) and have trouble adjusting to changing circumstances (like firming up an itinerary if flying from an unfamiliar airport).

Can’t concentrate? Reboot your brain with these simple tips.

2. You’ve been eating all day, and you’re still hungry!

Studies show that chronic sleep loss can disrupt blood sugar levels and cause the body to produce less leptin, a hormone that curbs appetite, and more ghrelin, leptin’s hunger-stimulating counterpart. Because of these physiological changes, you may be more likely to overeat when you skimp on sleep—and the food you pick probably won’t be either nutritious or a lasting source of energy. Tired people tend to be particularly drawn to sugars and other simple carbohydrates, probably because the body is looking for a quick pick-me-up, says Lisa Shives, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep deprivation also tends to erode self-control, making you more likely to choose a brownie over carrot sticks.

Follow this link to find out all 5 tips: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sleep-disorders/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100254292&gt1=31019

One of our patients stopped in with a copy of this article for me, while I also received numerous emails from patients, friends and family.

Here’s the first paragraph:
By KRIS MAHER for the Wall Street Journal

For the 18 million people with obstructive sleep apnea, the remedy is far from perfect: bulky and expensive masks that some compare to sleeping in scuba gear.

As the number of people with sleep apnea is expected to rise, doctors and medical device makers are trying new treatments. New masks, while still bulky, aim to be more comfortable. Dentists have begun prescribing an appliance that draws the lower jaw forward to create more space in the airway. ( for the rest of this very informative article, please follow this link: The New Face of Sleep )

For all of you that can not tolerate your CPAP, you are not alone!
You have an alternative, Oral Appliance Therapy. I have been successfully helping sleep apnea and snoring sufferers for over 6 years. Oral Appliances are:
~comfortable
~convenient
~affordable
~FDA-approved
~physician recommended
~physician used
~EFFECTIVE

Call my office today to schedule a consultation today, and get the sleep you need!
1-800-SNORING
630-369-5508

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois
Treating sleep apnea and snorning patients throughout the Chicagoland area, including Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Batavia and Plainfield.

In fact, it’s so dangerous, the American Sleep Assocation is Hosting a conference just to address Trucking and Sleep Issues. May 11-12 in Baltimore Maryland. Visit their site at this link The American Sleep Association Sleep Apnea and Trucking Converence

Facts and Numbers of Driving and Sleep Apnea

Below are the bullet points listed from the American Sleep Association’s website:

~Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and SafetyOSA afflicts at least 20 million Americans…more than asthma or diabetes, and yet more than 85% remain undiagnosed.
~People with OSA tend to have high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, depression and sexual dysfunction with annual health care costs TWO TIMES HIGHER than those without OSA.
~People with OSA are SIX times more likely to have a crash and SEVEN TIMES more likely to have multiple accidents.
~More than 800,000 drivers were involved in OSA-related car crashes in 2000, costing more than $15.9 billion in damage claiming 1,400 lives.
~It’s estimated that if all drivers with OSA were treated, $11.1B in damages could be saved, along with 980 lives each year.
~MOST IMPORTANTLY, accident and health risks return to NORMAL when individuals are diagnosed and treated for OSA.

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, in Naperville, we strongly urge you to find out if you do have Obstructive sleep apnea. Visit your primary care physician to learn more.

Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a CPAP-alternative? We can help! Dr. Lydia Sosenko, a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and general dentist, offers Oral Appliance Therapy, an effective and convenient alternative to a CPAP.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING, in northern Illinois, or 630-369-5508.

We Love to Help Our Patients Sleep CPAP-Free!

As you leave our office, following a visit, our patient coordinator – Rosa – might have asked you if you would be interested in letting us know about your visit. We would then send you an email with a link to our review site.

A review takes about 30 seconds to complete – Here’s one of my latest that I’d like to share with you:

User Rating: 5.00

01/27/2010
Title: Sleep Apnea — No Problem

Review:
” It´s been over 2 years since I went for my first appointment about sleep apnea and getting an oral appliance. One of the best things I ever did — just ask my wife — no more cpap machine and no more snoring. Dr. Sosenko and staff have been great and I highly recommend her practice to anyone that has sleep apnea and looking for an alternative to the cpap machine.”

We would love to hear from all of our patients. Would you like to take 30 seconds and let us know your comments? Follow this link:

http://shermanoaksdental.thereviewbook.com/review.php

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, our goal is to help our patients sleep CPAP-free with Oral Appliance Therapy.
~comfortable
~convenient
~FDA approved
~Physician Recommended
~EFFECTIVE

So effective, my mother’s physician just let me know how much he loves his Oral Appliance! Call our office today and we can help you, too.
630 369-5508 or 1-800-SNORING in Northern Illinois.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois

A friend of ours just shared this link that we think is very useful, new information on sleep for teens. Just in case you’ve been wondering if your teenager is getting the sleep they need.

Take a look:


(CLICK ON THE RED HERE TO VIEW THE MSN REPORT!)

And let us know what you think -

Do you have strict bedtimes?
Are you going to follow their tips?
Will you show the article to your teen?

There is no doubt that getting a good night’s sleep can improve your entire quality of life!

For more information on sleep apnea and snoring, visit our Naperville Office, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, 630 369-5508.

Fact #2: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT is) covered by most Medical Insurance, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid. Most medical insurance policies will cover the Oral Appliance when Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by a medical professional.

In the case of simple snoring, most policies do not currently pay for the Oral Appliance. However, there is no question that for a snorer, the OA is the best investment he/she can make in his/her health and domestic tranquility.

Our office staff will gladly file reimbursement claims for our patients. If you are not sure if your insurance will cover your Oral Appliance, we will help you send a pre-estimate to address you financial concerns.

Our office also offers alternative Financial Assistance.

Our goal, at Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, is not to let expense prevent you from benefiting from the quality of care you desire and need. When the treatment needed exceeds your budget, our financial coordinator can assist you in making alternative arrangements. We offer in office payment plans and third party financing companies. Care Credit is available to all qualifying patients. It takes less than 5 minutes to be approved on-line, while you are at our office or your home. Care Credit is interest free for 12 months, allowing our patients to set up a convienent payment plan to meet their individual needs.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING (in Northern Illinois), 630 369-5508. We’re located less than 5 minutes from I-88, just off Ogden Avenue, between Washington St. and Naper Blvd. Our friendly staff would love to help you get the sleep you need tonight!