{"id":912,"date":"2019-02-28T00:36:42","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T00:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=912"},"modified":"2019-03-04T00:37:19","modified_gmt":"2019-03-04T00:37:19","slug":"sleep-apnea-and-weight-loss-are-they-related","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/sleep-apnea-and-weight-loss-are-they-related\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep Apnea and Weight Loss: Are They Related?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/snoring-smaller-1024x684.jpeg\" alt=\"man snoring while partner covers ears\" class=\"wp-image-913\" width=\"265\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/snoring-smaller-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/snoring-smaller-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/snoring-smaller-768x513.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/sleep-apnea.html\">Sleep\napnea<\/a> is one of the foremost medical problems facing American society. Fortunately,\nthere are many ways that a sleep dentist can help to treat the problem, from spotting\ncommon symptoms to crafting a customized anti-apnea appliance. But part of the\nprocess of treating apnea is correcting the misconceptions that have grown up\naround the condition. With that in mind, let\u2019s look at some of the most common beliefs\nabout apnea and weight loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Truth about Apnea and Weight Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First let\u2019s consider three things that medical experts know for sure: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>People who are overweight are more likely to suffer\nfrom sleep apnea and vice versa. The two problems often occur together. <\/li><li>Not all apnea patients are carrying around extra\npounds, however. Many of them are well within normal weight ranges for their\nheight and body frame. <\/li><li>Losing weight might make apnea symptoms less severe.\nBut the odds of weight loss alone eliminating the condition are slim. Most\npatients will still require therapy in the form of a CPAP device, surgery, or a\ndentist-made mouthguard.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, there\u2019s a\nstrong correlation between sleep apnea and excess weight. But not all people\nwho suffer from one condition also suffer from the other. Nor is it possible to\n\u201ccure\u201d one problem by getting rid of the other. While many people can and do\nmanage their own weight loss, sleep apnea always requires professional care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let\u2019s look at ways a\nsleep dentist can help you to enjoy better rest. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Performing a\ncomplete exam of the mouth, throat, and sinus passages. Certain people are at\nhigh risk of apnea due to restricted airways or other physical characteristics.\nA dentist is often the first medical professional to spot these warning signs. <\/li><li>Providing a\nreferral to a sleep physician for a formal study, also known as a polysomnogram\n(PSG). This may occur at an authorized medical center or, in some cases, in the\npatient\u2019s home. Professional medical equipment is used to monitor the patient\u2019s\nbreathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep behavior. <\/li><li>Creating a customized\noral appliance to treat airway obstruction. This is sometimes used as an\nalternative to a CPAP mask. These products are not the same as over-the-counter\nmouthguards you may have seen online or in infomercials, which provide only\nminimal benefits if any at all. <\/li><li>Recommending sleep\ncoaching tips. For example, some people breathe normally while sleeping on their\nsides but develop apnea symptoms when rolling over onto their back. Your\ndentist may suggest ways to remain in an optimal position while at rest. Sometimes\nthis can be accomplished using a specially made brace or harness. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Better Rest for a Better Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting adequate amounts of\nquality sleep is essential for all of us. Self-care in the form of exercise and\nsound nutrition is important for achieving this goal. But correcting the\nsymptoms of apnea takes professional help. See your dentist or other healthcare\nprofessional soon to discuss your treatment options. You\u2019ll soon be on your way\nto a healthier, happier, more productive life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. St. Clair has been practicing\ndentistry for 23 years, since earning his dental degree from Tufts University\nSchool of Dental Medicine. He\u2019s a member of the American Dental Association\n(ADA) and the American Association of Dental Sleep Medicine. You can reach his\noffice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/contact.html\">online<\/a>\nor by calling (978) 948-2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sleep apnea is one of the foremost medical problems facing American society. Fortunately, there are many ways that a sleep dentist can help to treat the problem, from spotting common symptoms to crafting a customized anti-apnea appliance. But part of the process of treating apnea is correcting the misconceptions that have grown up around the condition. With that in mind, let\u2019s look at some of the most common beliefs about apnea and weight loss. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=912"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":914,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912\/revisions\/914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}