Issue 36.16
The topic of sleep has been gaining national media attention lately. In fact, The Huffington Post and The Oprah Winfrey Network have been espousing the importance of sleep recently. Simply stated, it’s a message that sleep professionals have been telling patients for years: Sleep affects overall health.
Even Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D., was quoted in the Huffington Post as saying that poor sleep is “the single most under-appreciated problem in America.” In the same article, Oz even goes as far as saying, “If you have the choice between an extra hour of sleep or an extra hour of working out, you sleep.” He adds that a lack of sleep leads to weight gain, immune problems and other issues. Finally, he suggests that 95 percent of people need between seven and eight hours of sleep.
Of course, just being in bed doesn’t qualify as sleep. Patients who suffer from conditions like sleep apnea (a medical condition where a person actually stops breathing during sleep) or other issues don’t get the quality of sleep their body requires. Most people who suffer from sleep problems probably don’t even know they’re at risk. In fact, it’s usually a person’s sleeping partner who notices symptoms like loud snoring or pauses in breathing.
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 high percentage of patients find CPAP machines to be so cumbersome that they eventually refuse to use them regularly. 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 a limited time, Premier Sleep Solutions in St. George is offering free sleep consultations. This is normally a $200 value.
For more information or to schedule a sleep consultation, contact Premier Sleep Solutions in St. George at (435)319-0478 or visit www.premiersleepsolutions.com. Premier Sleep Solutions has offices in St. George and Salt Lake City. The St. George office address is 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.