Sleep apnea is a serious illness most often characterized by snoring, gasping for breath and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is implicated in many disorders including high blood pressure, changes in insulin resistance and a six fold increase in heart attacks and strokes. CPAP is the Gold Standard of treatment for sleep apnea and is very effective. Patients with moderate apnea who have untreated sleep apnea have a 36% decrease in 8 year survival compared to treated patients according to studies in the journal SLEEP.
The problem, according to Dr Ira L Shapira is that only "23-45% of patients prescribed CPAP actually use it regularly while the majority of obstructive sleep apnea patients do not" and this places these patients at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that patients with untreated sleep apnea are at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes when sleeping than when exercising. Dr Shapira is concerned that when combined with the stresses of the current economy these patients are at great risk. He urges all patients who are not using their CPAP on a regular basis to pull their machines out of their closets, clean them thoroughly and begin using them immediately. This is especially true of patients with high blood pressure or other cardiac risks.
Medical studies have shown that even patients who use their CPAP average only 4-5 hours a night not the recommended 7 1/2 - 8 hours. Recent studies have shown that patients who tolerate CPAP well from the beginning of treatment tend to continue treatment and patients who HATE CPAP or do not tolerate it at the start of treatment rarely embrace CPAP use.
Dr Shapira believes that Dental Sleep Medicine has the answers for patients who do not tolerate CPAP.
If you are CPAP Intolerant or just want a comrtable alternative to CPAP call Dr Shapira and find out if you can improve your life thru better sleep. Call today at 1-8-NO-PAP-MASK.
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) published a paper CARDIOVASCULAR AND SLEEP-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS that confirms the connection of TMJ Disorders and sleep disorders. This excellent article can be found at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
An excellent article for patients with TM Joint disorders (TMD) or sleep disorders is available at Sleep and Health Journal. It features a story by Ira L Shapira DDS, DABDSB, DAAPM, FICCMO the founder of I HATE CPAP LLC and the website http://www.ihatecpap.com The article in Sleep and Health Journal, SUFFER NO MORE: DEALING WITH THE GREAT IMPOSTOR prompted hundreds of patients to find neuromuscular dentists to treat their chronic pain. "SUFFER NO MORE" is available at http://sleepandhealth.com/
A RECENT ARTICLE IN "Chest. 2008 Aug;134(2):332-
"RESULTS: Measurements of respiration showed significant changes over time. Four seconds before RMMA muscle activity, the amplitude of respiration is already increased (8 to 23%); the rise is higher at the onset of the suprahyoid activity (60 to 82% 1 s before RMMA); the rise is maximal during RMMA (108 to 206%) followed by a rapid return to levels preceding RMMA. A positive and significant correlation was found between the frequencies of RMMA episodes and the amplitude of breath (R(2) = 0.26; p = 0.02). The amplitude of respiratory changes was 11 times higher when arousal was associated with RMMA in comparison to arousal alone.
Patients looking for help with Sleep Disordered Breathing, Apnea, Hypopnea, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome or Snoring can find help at www.ihatecpap.com. Patients looking for help with TMJ Disorders, Chronic pain or wanting to learn more about Neuromuscular Dentistry can go to www.IHATEHEADACHES.org or contact Dr Kushners office.
Dr Shapira gave his last Dental Sleep Medicine course on November 14-15, 2008. His next course is offered April 3-4, 2009 in Chicago
Dr Ira L Shapira is an author and section editor of Sleep and Health, President of I HATE CPAP LLC, President Dato-TECH, and has a Dental Practice with his partner Dr Mark Amidei. He has recently formed Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates. He is a Regent of ICCMO and its representative to the TMD Alliance, He was a founding and certified member of the Sleep Disorder Dental Society which became the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, A founding member of DOSA the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, A Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management, a graduate of LVI. He is a former assistant professor at Rush Medical Schools Sleep Service where he worked with Dr Rosalind Cartwright who is a founder of Sleep Medicine and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira is a consultant to numerous sleep centers and teaches courses in Dental Sleep Medicine in his office to doctors from around the U.S. He is the Founder of I HATE CPAP LLC and http://www.ihatecpap.com Dr Shapira also holds several patents on methods and devices for the prophylactic minimally invasive early removal of wisdom teeth and collection of bone marrow and stem cells. Dr Shapira is a licensed general dentist in Illinois and Wisconsin.
