Issue 39.17
If you’re getting less than six hours of sleep a night on a regular basis, you may as well be drunk most of the time. That’s the conclusion of a new research study from a Canada-based health firm.
According to the study, people who were awake for 18 hours had the same cognitive impairment as if they were drunk. Researchers concluded that driving with sleep deprivation is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.1 percent, which is legally drunk in most areas of the United States.
The study also revealed that the brain becomes less stable the longer a person is awake. The result of a lack of sleep is that an individual has a reduced ability to focus on specific tasks, like driving a vehicle or making critical business decisions.
At Premier Sleep Solutions, we know that a common cause of poor sleep is a medical condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea repeatedly causes the body to stop breathing, and it can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Premier Sleep Solutions specializes in treating patients suffering from sleep apnea by fitting them with custom-made oral appliances. Premier Sleep Solutions is now using new technology to take digital impressions of a patient’s mouth during the fitting process. This technology is faster and more comfortable for the patient than traditional impression trays. The oral 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 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 now has offices in St. George, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. The St. George office address is 75 South 100 East, #1E.