Issue 9.17
If you don’t sleep well, you could be hurting your ability to retain newly learned information. Even though medical researchers still don’t completely understand the process of memory creation, they also believe that memory is affected by sleep.
In a recent study, researchers asked a group of people to study several photos. Then, one group was allowed to get a full night’s sleep while the other was sleep deprived. Six months later, the entire group met again. The group that had been well rested had much greater memory and recognition than the sleep-deprived group. Simply stated, most skills are connected to sleep—including athletic skills, motor skills (like those required to play the piano), math and word skills.
If you don’t sleep well, you could be suffering from sleep apnea, a medical condition in which the body has one or more pauses in breathing, or shallow breaths during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 30 times or more in a minute. People with sleep apnea often snore. What’s more, those with sleep apnea typically don’t realize they have this condition. So, it’s usually a person’s sleeping partner who initially identifies the problem. If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other health issues.
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 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.