Obstructive Sleep Apnea Archives - Sleep Group Solutions

10 Celebrities with Sleep Apnea

Daniel SGS — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:23:44 +0000

It’s estimated that around 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and chances are that you personally know someone with some form of the sleep disorder. Of course, those 18 million include people outside our own familial and social circles, and celebrities and sports stars are by no means immune to it (in fact, the condition may have even been the eventual cause of Carrie Fisher’s death). No matter how mighty they may be in the public eye, famous people are, after all, only human. They need sleep like the rest of us!

Below are only some examples of celebrities’ whose somnambulant habits were an indicator of something more severe, and how they wound up approaching their condition.

1- Amy Poehler

Emmy nominated comedian and Saturday Night Alum Amy Poehler was diagnosed with Obstructive sleep apnea after finding herself perpetually exhausted since her pregnancy (incidentally, pregnant women are fairly susceptible to developing OSA). She has reportedly started feeling much better since her diagnosis with the regular use of a CPAP.

2- Shaquille O’Neal

Towering at 7’ 11” and at over 300 lbs, this guy may be the least shocking of the bunch as someone who would contract sleep apnea, demonstrating many of the classic physical attributes of someone who would be susceptible to it. He eventually sought out a diagnosis at the Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine, where he was diagnosed with a moderate form of OSA. He has since produced a video in association with the Harvard Medical School about his journey from diagnosis to treatment and is now managing the condition with a CPAP.

3- Adam Savage

MythBusters co-host, editor in chief of Tested.com, and internet darling Adam Savage lost 30 pounds and had most of the negative effects of the sleep disorder clear up after seeking treatment. He has since been very publicly open on the positive health impacts that CPAP treatment has brought him.

4- Rosie O’Donnell

According to her sleep test readings, she had some 200 apneic episodes a night! Unsurprisingly, she suffered a heart attack in 2007, which wound up being the catalyst for treatment. As with many people seeking diagnosis, she felt too uncomfortable taking a sleep test at a clinic, and so opted to have one at home. She reportedly took too treatment like a fish to water, with her first night on a CPAP yielding great results! Since then, she has since done good work on bringing awareness to the condition by discussing her diagnosis and treatment on The View.

5- William Shatner

Cultural icon and Shakespearian trained actor, he has since sought treatment for his diagnosis and is still going strong and taking rolls at 86!

6- Regis Philbin

The former host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire also went on The View and spoke about his experience being diagnosed with OSA (only seeking help after a bunch of complaints from his wife about the snoring, naturally) and is currently using a CPAP machine to manage his condition. Before treatment, the Emmy award winning host was plagued by heart conditions that have forced him to go through several bypass surgeries.

7- Herm Schneider

As a successful Chicago White Sox head trainer since 2010 and having over 30 years of experience in the MLB, this man is known for being a staunch defender of the physical health for both himself and his team. This is evidenced by the fact that one of his many claims to fame is having the lowest record of injured players in the league. Since his diagnosis, he has been a wonderful advocate for sleep apnea awareness and CPAP usage.

8- Roseanne Barr

Comedian and TV host Rosanne Bar documented her journey from diagnosis to treatment on her reality show Rosanne’s Nuts, where she filmed her experience at a sleep clinic. After taking a home sleep test, she sought treatment by both using a CPAP and undergoing surgery for her nose.

9- Randy Jackson

This American Idol Judge and musician had a lucky break when he was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, subsequently revealing that he had sleep apnea. He has since had a gastric bypass surgery, reducing his weight (likely making his condition easier to manage and less severe) and now manages the sleep disorder with regular CPAP treatments.

10- Percy Harvin

The famed wide-receiver for the Florida Gators sought treatment in 2010 after a migraine episode caused him to be carted off the field mid-game. He was soon diagnosed after a hospital stay, with his sleep test showing that his heart stopped beating EIGHT TIMES for up to ten seconds at a time throughout the night. His migraines have reportedly subsided since treatment.

*This is an informational piece of content. No person or persons listed above has endorsed Sleep Group Solutions or our products and we have no intention of implying as such.

Sources utilized for piece:

https://slate.com/culture/2018/03/the-new-roseanne-trailer-has-familiar-faces-familiar-places-and-a-horrifying-sleep-apnea-mask.html

www.findatopdoc.com/Healthy-Living/20-Celebrities-Diagnosed-with-Sleep-Apnea

http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/sleep-apnea

http://amatranscripts.com/ama/adam_savage_2016-03-03.html

Ready to Change Your Patient’s Lives for the Better?

Daniel SGS — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 19:53:20 +0000

I want to share my new passion for what can change your patient’s and your lives, by introducing the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring to your practice.

There are practice and life changing benefits to adding dental sleep medicine to your practice. And this is true for new, mature and even near retirement dentists!

I had taken one sleep class prior to the Sleep Group Solution class. It was after that class, that I jumped in! And now, having given over 35 two-day sleep classes, as well as other classes not sponsored by Sleep Group Solutions, and having practiced it for 7 years, I want to take the time to explain why it is so incredible.

If you are a senior dentist, like myself, it will prolong your career by making it fun and profitable. Four attendees, in 2016, told me they left retirement to begin treating sleep apnea. Others have delayed retirement. Why? It’s physically easier than general dentistry, mentally stimulating, rewarding for lives prolonged and discovering imminently serious medical issues, and on top of it, financially profitable. And if your body is feeling the effects of years at the chair, treating sleep disorders can be a relief!

If you are a busy or want to be busier midlife practitioner, you can do the same as a senior, but add revenue, make it staff driven, and often add a practitioner to do general dentistry as you get too “busy” due to patient demands. That’s a good thing! And of course, the additional services make a practice more valuable in a future sale, merger, or for adding a partner or associate.

If you are a young or new practitioner, even starting out, what can be better than offering this additional service to the 34% of you adult patients who might be candidates for this treatment. And, of course, it will help pay the bills and loans.

Many of us don’t realize that the doctor can have staff actually perform the service. Impressions, bites and their associated airway measurements.

For myself, I love to share cases and videos of patient’s whose lives I’ve changed or saved. No other “primary care” medical practitioner takes on this responsibility en masse. The medical model doesn’t allow it, and few PCP’s get involved.

BUT, we work next to the airway, and in addition to the medical histories, we see the signs of sleep disorders every day in the dentition and surrounding tissues. Save some lives, make your day easier, and add incremental revenue, as adding dental sleep medicine doesn’t increase your overall overhead.

Head into 2017 with new passion.

Hope to see you at one of my courses, Dr. Barry Freydberg

The Medical Role of Hygienists in Dental Sleep Medicine

Daniel SGS — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 18:09:34 +0000

Is there anyone in a better position than the Hygienist to discover the signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Your field of operations is right there at the opening of the airway.

You can’t miss the signs.
You can see if a large tongue is blocking the passageway to the pharynx. You can see if the sides of the tongue show a scalloping which is indicative of a forceful gasping for precious air. Is the airway blocked laterally by large fauces or tonsils? You can’t miss the patient’s Mallampati score.

Do the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth show evidence of bruxism? Are the incisal edges of the anterior teeth worn down? Does your patient have acid reflux? TMJ pain? A severely receded (retrognathic) chin?

And in your interview with your patient do you learn that your patient has daytime sleepiness, often dozes off while watching TV or at the movies, and even worse, feels sleepy while driving?

Were you informed that the patient’s spouse complains about loud snoring?
Do you see an overweight patient with a large diameter neck?

Listen to the alert!
These are some of the more common signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. They are so easy to see. These warning signs are sitting right there in the hygienist’s field of operations and they are screaming out, “Notice us. We are here to destroy your patient”. “We can cancel out all the good that you do for this patient.”

For a diligent Hygienist to miss these warnings would be to surrender a great opportunity to help patients enjoy a better quality of life and, in fact, to save lives. The rewards to you, your practice, and your patients are considerable- both emotionally and financially.

Take action!

Learn more about incorporating Dental Sleep Medicine into your practice, by attending a lecture with Sleep Group Solutions. Be sure to bring your key staff personnel with you when you attend our 2-day dental sleep medicine lecture!

Driver Fatigue: A Deadly Consequence of Sleep Apnea

Daniel SGS — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:17:09 +0000

Do you remember the two recent deadly train wrecks attributed to engineers suffering from sleep apnea? The first was in NYC on Metro North RR and the other on NJ Transit commuting from NYC.

It’s known that 1 out of 3 people suffer from a sleep disorder. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can effect anyone in public transportation and in private driving.

The National Highway Safety Administration estimates that “100,000 vehicle accidents, 1500 deaths and 71,000 injuries result from drowsy driving annually.”

Most sleep deprivation results from:

Sleep apnea
Shift work
Certain medications
Long-haul driving
Inadequate time for sleep
Insomnia
Release from a stay in hospital

The state of New Jersey passed a law in 2003 that criminalizes drowsy driving due to its similarity to alcohol or drug impaired driving.

Consuming caffeine is only a short term fix for drowsiness. After 3 nights of deprived sleep, caffeine was shown to be non-effective in combating sleepiness.

Adults need 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night to maintain adequate alertness. With OSA, a person can wake 6-30 plus times per hour to gasp for breath. The brain and other organs are oxygen deprived these many times.

Another consequence of inadequate sleep is that a person, while driving can suffer from “microsleeps” lasting less than a second. In this state, the brain switches from Wake to Sleep mode,

enough time to cause a crash.

Hygienists, as health care providers, are in the perfect position to screen for drowsiness and sleep apnea. We can and will save lives both on the road and in someone’s personal life.

Hygienists Preserving Good Health

More and more dental practices are getting on board for the OSA fight. Shouldn’t your office be one of them? We can help you join the battle and stand out as a life saver. Sleepgs.com

Hey 2017, Welcome!

Daniel SGS — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:29:24 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR! From all of us over at Sleep Group Solutions!

Here are a few tips to help you create the best dental practice in 2017!

—

1. Make sure your staff is trained and up to date on the latest services offered.

2. Get patient referrals. You can do this by giving your patients something to talk about. Such as offering a life changing service, like treating snoring and sleep apnea. These types of services make patients HAPPY. A happy patient is the best patient.

3. Expand your services to generate more revenue. There are plenty of new ways to generate new revenues in dentistry. Attend a new CEU lecture to get inspired.

4. Create an office culture. Once you find what sets your practice apart from the rest, dive in a little deeper, and you will find your culture.

5. Offer more financial plans or options. Patients are more likely to say YES, if they can come up with a reasonable way to pay for it.

6. Update any dinosaur equipment. Patients want a clean and up to date experience in any area of healthcare. Old school is cool, but not in the dental office. Try reaching out to your vendors, you would be surprised that most offer new units or equipment. You just have to ask!

Sleep Group Solutions Announce 2017 Dates for Staff-Only Lecture, The SGS Boot Camp

Daniel SGS — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 19:04:22 +0000

Staff Members are encouraged to attend the Sleep Group Solutions two-day lecture focusing on successful treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Lecture opportunities in March, May and October.

(Miami, FL) Due to increasing success and attendance in the Sleep Group Solutions boot camp in 2016, SGS will offer the two-day lecture for staff members in 2017 as well. Staff members can attend the lecture in either Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the SGS headquarters, or in Las Vegas. Dates are set in March, May, and October.

“Dental Sleep Medicine is very staff driven,” says Rebecca Layhe, Director of the SGS Boot Camp Program. “This is an exciting and new field of patient care.” Rebecca serves as the program consultant, coaching teams to achieve their goals as Dental Sleep Medicine specialists.

A video created about the boot camp describes Mrs. Layhe’s passion toward patient care, community education, lecturing and presenting information about sleep disordered breathing and Dental Sleep Medicine to the public. Future attendees can also view the video to see what to expect during the lecture, as well as a few topics covered.

The Sleep Group Solutions Boot Camp is built around supporting staff members involved in DSM screening and treatment. The program will provide a two-day, hands-on training dedicated to their particular roles in snoring and sleep apnea screening and treatment, as well as oral appliance therapy.

The two-day program will focus on patient care, team coordination, case creation and presentation, insurance billing and collections. The program also offers an array of expert speakers, which will be announces soon. All SGS clients are able to register their office for the program. The rate is $99.00 per staff member, and 16 CEU’s will be issued after the course.

2017 Boot Camp Dates:

March 17-18, 2017 (In Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

May 12-13, 2017 (In Ft. Lauderdale, FL

October 20-21, 2017 (In Las Vegas, NV)

For more information on the program, or to register your office staff, contact SGS Client Relations at 954-606-6960 or 888-608-4745.

About SGS Boot Camp

SGS Boot Camp is a training course for dental office staff to learn how to screen patients, how to network, and create marketing relationships, how to talk to patients about Sleep Apnea and how to have everyone on the same page to help the dentist have a successful sleep practice. 16 ceu and lunch provided.

Acid Reflux During the Night Can Be A Scary Experience

Daniel SGS — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 17:48:30 +0000

GERD Can Eat You Away….

By: Dr. Charles Kravitz

Have you ever woken in the middle of the night choking on acid because you’ve inhaled it and can’t breathe?

Try taking in a breath and all you get is a burning in your throat and lungs. You try to expel it but it takes many tries and coughing, burning, burning. You panic, thinking, “Am I going to die?” You possibly could if you hadn’t woken up!

This is what people with GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) experience many times if they have eaten a spicy meal, eaten too close to bedtime, did not raise their head higher than their body while sleeping, or have SLEEP APNEA.

As a victim of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) myself, I have experienced this nightmarish incident many times. Fortunately, as I received treatment for OSA, my Acid Reflux, and other systemic disorders, has subsided.

Sleep apnea, of course, is the cessation of breathing for over 10 seconds and up to 90 seconds, repeated many times while sleeping. Snoring is the warning alert.

SLEEP APNEA INFLUENCES ACID REFLUX

How it happens: During the cessations of breathing the body will increase its efforts to take in air. Abdominal contractions are exaggerated and increase until breathing resumes.
The contractions squeeze the stomach and force acid up the esophagus.
The efforts to breathe also increase a negative pressure in the esophagus which also pull up acid.

Secondary effects of OSA, resulting from the GERD, are esophagus and larynx damage, aspiration pneumonia, permanent lung damage, tooth erosion, and tooth sensitivity.

Solutions: People may take medications to control symptoms of GERD, and this helps, but OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) can override the effects of the proton-pump inhibitor (Omeprazole), or other OTC drugs.

Patients in the dental office can be easily screened for OSA at the initial oral exam. Tooth erosion is one consequence, bruxism is another. A sleep questionnaire and other signs of sleep apnea will prompt the need for a HSS (home sleep study). This will determine the diagnosis of OSA and the severity. By treating the sleep apnea we can save teeth and possibly the patient’s life.

It’s so important to treat the sleep apnea for many reasons. GERD is just one of them. One out of 3 people have a sleep disorder. Everyone knows someone with sleep apnea and a story to tell about it. Shouldn’t we as dental professionals help our patients have healthier teeth and live longer?

Get involved for profit, prestige, and the great feeling of saving lives: Hygienists around the country are screening for OSA and dentists are treating it with oral appliances. They gain the satisfaction of truly helping patients, their family members and possibly themselves.

Take a two-day lecture with Sleep Group Solutions to learn more!

Sleep Group Solutions Offering Extra Discounts for 2016 Purchasing Through December 31st

Daniel SGS — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:07:59 +0000

Dental Sleep Medicine education, instrumentation, and in-office training company, Sleep Group Solutions,

encourage dentists to make purchases now, before potential increase in pricing on certain items in 2017.

(Miami, FL) Sleep Group Solutions is offering discounts on certain items as incentives for purchasing in 2016. Select items, such as patient kits, will see an increase in price come 2017, SGS encourages dentists to buy now to save money for next year.

Dentists can log onto TheSleepMall.com for all products related to the dental treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. “We are offering a 10% discount on all sales before Dec 31^st.” says Frances Rechtszaid, Director of Operations at Sleep Group Solutions. The Sleep Mall items range from marketing assistance, to home sleep testing devices and supplies.

For dental continuing education seminars, dentists can also save $300.00 when registering for any seminar in 2017. Registrations must be made before December 31, 2016 to receive the $300.00 discount. Seminar locations are nationwide and hit most major US cities in 2017.

Marketing brochures, patients kits, disposable items for Pharyngometry and Rhinometry, appliances and more, all at 10% off on TheSleepMall.com. Sale ends December 31, 2016 at 5pm eastern. Questions on the end-of-year sale can call 954-606-6960.

About Sleep Group Solutions

Sleep Group Solutions is an airway diagnostic technology company serving the needs of physicians and dentists interested in screening, diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and other upper airway disorders. Sleep Group Solutions offers the latest screening and diagnostic equipment solutions for patients with allergy, sinus congestion, rhinitis, deviated septum, nasal polyps, snoring and sleep apnea. SGS offers the most comprehensive dental sleep medicine CE seminars in the industry focused on teaching dentists the protocols needed to make the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea part of their practice. Sleep Group Solutions offers sleep study interpretation, oral appliances (Norad Boil & Bite, Respire), online directory 1800SleepLab.com and online marketing for CPAP Intolerant patients. SGS is the manufacturer of the Eccovision Systems Rhinometer and Pharyngometer, and offers Home Sleep Testing devices.

A Must-Attend Dental Continuing Education Lecture in Boston with Sleep Group Solutions on November 18-19, 2016

Daniel SGS — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:21:23 +0000

The dental sleep medicine and dental continuing education company, Sleep Group Solutions presents Palma Dental Laboratory as guest speaker and supporting dental lab during the two-day sleep seminar.

Join Sleep Group Solutions in Boston, MA on November 18-19^th at the Embassy Suites Logan Airport. Instructed by Dr. Damian Blum, with special guest presentation by Palma Dental Laboratory. 16 CEU will be issued, both dentists and hygienists are encouraged to attend.

During the dental sleep medicine lecture, attendees can expect to learn about sleep apnea prevalence, treatment and screening options, home sleep testing, instrumentation such as Rhinometer and Pharyngometer, oral appliances, medical billing, patient education and more. “We look forward to raising awareness of this epidemic in Boston. The good news is Sleep Apnea is manageable, and we teach the step-by-step protocol.” Says Dr. Damian Blum, seminar instructor and Dental Sleep Medicine expert.

Special guest speaker for the lecture is Palma Dental Laboratory. Laboratory representative Kelley Macdonald will be on-hand to give a presentation about lab services offered, and working together with their local Kingston area lab. A member of the NADL, the progressive full service lab has been in business for over 30 years. Acknowledged globally as a leader in 3D scanners, allows them to offer a full range of restorative materials and products, anatomical crowns & bridges, substructers, implant abutments & bars, models and p.d. frames.

To learn more about the SGS 2-day sleep seminar in Boston go here. To get more information on Palma Dental Laboratory, please visit their website.

Sleep Group Solutions Post Dental Sleep Medicine Seminar Line-Up for 2017

Daniel SGS — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:26:51 +0000

The Dental continuing education and dental sleep medicine seminar company is hitting major cities across the U.S.A. with their 16 CEU Sleep Seminar Workshops. Dentists and Hygienists are encouraged to attend.

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Pioneers in Dental Sleep Medicine education, instrumentation and in-office training, Sleep Group Solutions, publishes 2017 sleep seminar line-up. The 16 CEU (AGD/PACE) dental sleep medicine course will include nearly 100 lecture opportunities across the United States.

Known as the authority in Dental Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Group Solutions lecture offers vital information on the science and medical reasoning behind OSA, screening and treatment methods, home sleep testing, insurance and billing, working with physicians, and more. “They {SGS} have made learning the DSM protocol accessible to more dentists across the country, by offering a large number of lecture locations. SGS by far is the world’s largest Dental Sleep Medicine company.” says DSM expert and lecturer, Dr. Barry Freydberg. “In 2017 they will be in almost every major city!”

Attendees can expect an enhanced learning experience with special guest speakers in select cities. “In 2017 we will continue to team-up with local laboratories that will come to specific lecture locations to present on oral appliances and their lab.” says President Rani Ben-David. New partnerships, and new findings in the dental treatment of OSA will be a staple for SGS in 2017.

Sleep Group Solutions will offer roughly eight to ten sleep seminars each month, with special lectures including a staff-driven Boot Camp, and an Advance lecture. Lecturers for the company include wet-finger dentists who are experts in the field, and run successful Sleep practices. To learn more about the SGS seminar, or instructors, go here.