If you snore or wake up gasping in the middle of the night, you really should consider having at least a HST-Home Sleep Test- done to see if you are in the range of sleep apnea. In most cases, you would do the home test to get the basic indicators to see if there is more of a problem than meets the eye. The test will reveal a number called the AHI-Apnea Hypopnea Index. If that number is between 0 and 5, there is a very low risk of apnea. If the number is over 15, then it is usually labeled as moderate to severe apnea. AHI refers to how many times you either stopped or slowed breathing each hour of the night.

The problem with sleep apnea is that your brain does not get enough oxidation to function properly. Often this can manifest as a morning headache. Other manifestations of apnea include cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and even some cancers. When the brain and body do not receive proper oxygen supply, systems in the body begin to shut down. This is when disease processes can set in and now you have to deal with daily meds for diabetes or high blood pressure. Many times, some of these meds prevent the good, deep sleep that we need for better health. Painkillers are notorious for allowing us to fall asleep, yet they prevent the deeper, restorative sleep that is critical to good health.

So, what are some of the warning signs that you might have sleep apnea? One clear sign of potential OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) is waking up with a headache regularly. This oftentimes means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen and it lets you know by making your head hurt when you first wake up. This is serious stuff – deal with it. Other indicators include restless legs and even gasping for air in the middle of the night. Your brain jolts you into waking up so that you can breathe and get some oxygen into the body. Other signs include waking with a dry mouth or even a sore throat.

A really strong sign of OSA is excessive daytime sleepiness. Again, your body is warning you of a potential problem and you really need to listen. Another symptom is trouble focusing during the day. As you can see, OSA is a serious problem and it’s wise to deal with it. Get the proper help you need from someone who understands sleep apnea. Please call our team in Falls Church, Virginia to schedule a visit with Dr. Brown. Call 703-821-1103 today!

The post Do You Have Sleep Apnea? first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.

Now, let’s explore the implications of exercise and its impact on the effectiveness of TMD treatment. Engaging in activities such as running can subject the neck to significant impact, leading to compression of the spinous processes. Consequently, this compression can adversely affect the temporomandibular (TM) joints. Therefore, it is generally not advisable to engage in running while undergoing TMD treatment. An alternative to running is the use of an elliptical machine. This low-impact device provides an excellent cardiovascular workout without putting strain on the neck. It is crucial to prioritize the well-being of the TM joints and cervical spine during the exercise routine.

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TMJ Disorder and Exercise

The post TMJ Disorder and Exercise first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.

TMJ and sleep disorders are very common but not really understood.  This can explain why myths or misconceptions are out there.  The other side of this coin is this is also commonly misdiagnosed because symptoms vary from person to person and are similar to other problems.  One example of similarities is with Lyme Disease.  This is caused by a tick bite and the symptoms could be chronic headaches or migraines, jaw pain and tingling in the hand or fingers, notable symptoms of TMJ disorder. The big difference is Lyme disease does not have the clicking and popping or vertigo symptoms of TMJ disorder.  There are other examples as well; migraines, Trigeminal Neuralgia (short, sharp pain from touching of the jaw joint), or even a Ganglion Cyst (on the TM joint causing swelling and jaw pain).

Just remember all of us get sore muscles from time to time. The big difference is when the muscles in your jaw joints get sore and the soreness does not go away.  This is when you should ask your dentist for a referral. Otherwise, you could be prolonging the unnecessary pain or soreness and allowing the disc to possibly become further damaged.  TMJ disorder does affect other parts of your body. The myth of no popping or clicking means no TMJ disorder is not true.  These displaced discs can cause other symptoms of neck pain, backache, loss of balance, or hearing loss without the clicking or popping.

Another common myth is that TMJ disorder is harmless and that living with it will not cause problems.  It is true this condition is non-life-threatening but at the same time, it should be addressed.  Some possible development would be bruxism.  This process causes grinding of your teeth and clenching, wearing down your tooth’s enamel, and can cause sleep issues.  If the tooth enamel is worn down, then the potential of decay or tooth loss becomes greater.

For the sleep side of things, sleep can be interrupted by the clenching and grinding of your teeth.  Interrupted sleep or waking up unrefreshed is a symptom of both TMJ disorder and sleep apnea. It is not considered just a sleep issue.  The myth of sleep issues coming with age is not exactly true.  The aging process does decrease the tone in muscles and the airway muscles are not immune to this. The muscles in the airway no longer hold the jaw in the correct place and in turn, the airway becomes restricted. Your body is now fighting harder to breathe.  The use of a CPAP as the only treatment for sleep apnea is another myth.  The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has determined that an oral sleep appliance is very effective for mild to moderate apnea index.  This index tells us how many times your sleep is interrupted within a night.  The Epworth scale (tiredness level) in conjunction with the apnea index can determine if the oral appliance will be effective.

An interesting myth, sleeping on your side cures sleep apnea, actually helps with sleep apnea but does not cure it. By sleeping on your side, the tongue is not relaxed enough to obstruct the airway by falling back into the throat creating a blockage.  The tongue is off to the side allowing air to pass through the airway.  This is noted with mild cases of sleep apnea.  The side sleeping is most definitely not a cure but is recommended a lot for “positional apnea”.

There are so many more myths out there for both TMJ and sleep disorders.  Always consult with your dentist or physician when it comes to these issues.  You do want to address these symptoms because both these conditions will affect your brain and in turn affect cognitive functions, generating higher stress, and possible memory loss.

The post Myths about TMJ and Sleep first appeared on Sleep & TMJ Therapy.