According to the National Jewish Health System, Treating OSA does not only improve sleep quality and ends snoring; it may also decrease the risk of more serious diseases
We’re hearing and learning more about it. The rise of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) in communities is at a staggering high. It’s estimated nearly 100 million people have OSA, a disorder which causes the breath to cease during sleep, some experiencing up to a minute without breath. What’s more dangerous than actually having the disorder? The shared risk factors associated with OSA, including higher risk for insulin resistance, heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke. Dental Sleep Medicine education company, Sleep Group Solutions hosts two-day lectures on the topic, for dentists and hygienists to learn their role in screening and treating snoring and sleep apnea.
With OSA awareness becoming more prevalent, doctors and companies like Sleep Group Solutions are taking a stand on the fight against OSA. Advanced technology, education, in office training and leading industry seminars are helping dentists better understand OSA, and shared risk factors involved. Dr. George Jones from Sunset Beach, NC, has been providing sleep apnea treatment in-house for several years, and understands the comorbidities and shared risk factors of the deadly disorder. “When a person with obstructive sleep apnea stops breathing, he or she wakes up. This interrupts sleep and stimulates the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure goes up in the vessels and in the lungs. The pressures that build up in the chest as you struggle to breathe against a closed airway can also affect heart function.” says Dr. Jones.
“Even while awake, people with obstructive sleep apnea have higher heart rates and more variable blood pressure than people without sleep apnea.” shares Dr. George Jones. “When we help our patients breathe without obstruction, we see vast improvements in their overall health.” Many of Dr. Jones’s patients treated with oral appliances have experienced a drastic decline, if not disappearance, in high blood pressure, as well as depression, anxiety and fatigue.
Thanks to the efforts of research, published studies, and case reviews, the treatment of OSA is more readily available, and dentists across the country are stepping up to help those in need. For more information on sleep apnea, and information on how to attend a sleep medicine seminar, please log onto www.SleepGS.com.
About Dr. George Jones
Dr. George Jones is a native of Wheeling, WV and earned his BS in Chemistry from Wheeling Jesuit University. He received his Dental Degree from the University Of Florida College Of Dentistry, and relocated to coastal North Carolina in 2003. Over the years, Dr. Jones has served as a consultant and evaluator for several dental manufacturers and maintains a private practice in Sunset Beach, NC.
