Issue 19.17
If you’re like most people, aging seems to translate into losing one’s ability to sleep well. As one of my patients recently complained, “When I was a teenager, I could sleep for 12 hours straight. Now, I’m constantly waking up every single night.”
The question, “Do older people need less sleep?” was recently taken on by researchers at UC Berkeley. Their findings, published April 5 in the journal, “Neuron,” concluded that lack of sleep in the elderly elevates risk of memory loss and a wide range of mental and physical disorders. They also found that the shift from deep sleep in youth to more sporadic sleep can start as early as when one is in his or her 30s.
At Premier Sleep Solutions, we know that one of the most common reasons people don’t get the type of deep sleep they need is because of 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.
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, many patients find CPAP machines to be so cumbersome that they eventually refuse to use them regularly.
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.
Dr. Shad Morris, DMD, is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, a certified diplomate of the American Academy of Sleep and Breathing, and CEO of Premier Sleep Solutions LLC.
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.