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                As seen in the Capital News "Ask your Dentist" column

                                      July 11, 2010

Question: I have high blood pressure and have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Are these linked? Am I at a higher risk of developing heart related issues?  Bob S.

Answer: Sleep apnea is the repeated stoppage of breathing while sleeping, so that one or more breaths are missed. A person can have many occurrences a night and in some people, episodes may last for up to minute. At each incident the brain awakens the person for a moment, to make them inhale air again. This cycle of brief awakenings results in disturbed and poor quality sleep.rest. Sleep apnea is not the same as snoring, though most people with this condition do snore.

Blood pressure normally falls during sleep. There is a substantial amount of evidence that if there is no fall at night, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart failure and heart attack.

One of the side effects of sleep apnea is that blood pressure usually does not fall at night. This means that there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally if left untreated, there is an increased likelihood of having daytime (resting) high blood pressure too.

Some estimates are that 50% of long-term Sleep Apnea sufferers have high blood pressure. It is not clear whether the cause is the repeated shortage of oxygen, caused by missing breaths, or the interrupted and poor quality of sleep. It is probably a combination of both. Studies have shown that continually not getting enough sleep increases the risk of elevated blood pressure. The lack of continual deep sleep due to sleep apnea may have a similar effect.

Those with sleep apnea usually cannot tell that they have this condition, since they are not aware of stopping breathing and the brief awakenings. Consequently, many sufferers do not believe that they have this problem when others tell them.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute estimates that 18 million people have sleep apnea. This is a large number of people who are at greater risk of increased blood pressure.

There are a number of treatment options for sleep apnea depending on the cause. Sometimes lifestyle changes are sufficient, and can include, not lying on the back, sleeping with head and upper body elevated (such as in a recliner) a reduction in alcohol consumption, reduction in the use of muscle relaxants, quitting smoking and weight loss. There are a number of devices that fit in the mouth that are worn at night. Positive airway pressure devices are available also. Treatment will decrease the risk of getting high blood pressure. For those who already have high blood pressure, treatment will help stop further increases, and reduce the risk of the consequences such as stroke and heart failure.

We offer No Charge Obstructive Sleep Apnea Testing in our dental practice called the Apnealink Plus. For more information go to our website at www.kelownadentistrydesign.ca or email patientcare@kelownadentistrydesign.ca. You may also call the office at 250-860-1414 for an Epworth Sleepiness Test to be sent to you. If you have a dentistry related question please forward them to the enclosed email.

As seen in the June 6 edition of Capital News

     "Ask your Dentist"

Question: My 12 year old son snores at night and wakes up tired. He has dark circles under his eyes and finds it hard to stay awake during the day. Can children have sleep apnea? What are the signs?

Rene C. 

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common problem in children, and is increasing being recognized as a cause of

daytime attention and behavioral problems. Unlike adults with sleep apnea, who are often overweight and frequently wake up at

night, children with OSA are more difficult to recognize and diagnose.

Although snoring is a common symptom in children with obstructive sleep apnea, it is important to remember that between 10-20

percent of normal children snore (primary snoring) on a regular or intermittent basis. In addition to continuous loud snoring, other

symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in children include:

• failure to thrive (weight loss or poor weight gain)

• daytime cognitive and behavior problems, including problems paying attention, aggressive behavior and hyperactivity, which

can lead to problems at school

Diagnosis

Treatments

What You Need To Know

• As in adults, obstructive sleep apnea can cause a lot of complications, including poor growth,

• OSA, and sleep problems in general, are increasingly being recognized as a cause of children's daytime school and behavioral

In our practice, we offer no charge Sleep Apnea Testing for adults. To book a No Charge Sleep Study, please call 250-860-1414 or

for more information please visit our website at www.kelownadentistrydesign.ca. Questions for