Issue 44.14
It’s a long-established fact that the healthiest sleep habits involve consistently going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time. Now, a recent study out of the United Kingdom concluded that inconsistent bedtimes for young children could impact important academic skills.
The study, which examined more than 11,000 7-year-old boys and girls, attempted to determine whether the time a child went to bed, and the consistency of bedtimes, had any effect on intellectual performance in the areas of reading, math and spatial awareness. The study concluded that girls who had irregular bedtimes at ages 3, 5 and 7 had much lower reading, math and spatial awareness scores than those with consistent bedtimes. In boys, the impact was the same if they had irregular bedtimes at any two of three age categories. The study’s authors concluded, “Reduced or disrupted sleep, especially if it occurs at key times in development, could have important impacts on health throughout life.”
At Premier Sleep Solutions, we treat adults with sleep apnea. Simply stated, sleep apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing while a person is asleep. The condition is often found in people who snore and/or are overweight. Sleep apnea occurs more often in men than in women.
Premier Sleep Solutions specializes in treating patients suffering from sleep apnea by fitting them with custom-made oral appliances. These appliances, which are similar to bleach trays in appearance, can often be used in place of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. While CPAP machines have been used for years, recent research has shown that in many cases, custom-made oral appliances can be as effective as CPAP in treating sleep apnea. Plus, a substantial percentage of patients find CPAP machines to be so cumbersome that they eventually refuse to use them regularly, and as a result, their overall health suffers.
Most insurance companies now cover oral appliance therapy and the oral appliances. Medicare is leading the way relative to standard of care within the industry.
For more information about oral appliances or to schedule a patient consultation, please contact Premier Sleep Solutions in St. George at (435)319-0478 or visit our website at www.premiersleepsolutions.com. Premier Sleep Solutions has offices in St. George and Salt Lake City, Utah, San Antonio, Texas, Los Angeles and Newport Beach, Calif. The St. George office is located at 75 South 100 East, #1E, St. George, UT 84770.
Dr. Shad Morris, DMD, is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the only certified diplomate of the American Academy of Sleep and Breathing in Southern Utah, and CEO of Premier Sleep Solutions LLC.