Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Does Thanksgiving Turkey Really Make You Sleepy?

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Do you feel sleepy after your Thanksgiving turkey dinner? Yes, turkey contains the amino acid, tryptophan which is a precursor to the sleep hormone, melatonin.

Eating a turkey dinner won't make you sleepy though. Why?

You would need to eat about 46 pounds of turkey to get enough tryptophan to affect your sleep. Plus, tryptophan doesn't work well with protein and since your turkey breast is a protein.... you get the idea.

The urge to nap after the Thanksgiving feast probably has to do with the wine, the exhaustion after all the preparation and perhaps, a little bit of avoidance behavior so you don't have to talk to the relatives that are really annoying!

Have a wonderful turkey and get some sleep.
If feeling sleepy during the day is an ongoing problem you may have a sleep disorder. Contact us today at 561-394-9000 to find out more.

Labels: sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

Sleep Apnea - Why Don't More People Get Tested?

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Researchers believe that only 10% of people who has a sleep breathing disorder like obstructive sleep apnea have been diagnosed. So why don't the other 90% get tested for sleep apnea?

They don't know that sleep apnea exists.
They don't know they have a problem. They have been feeling so sleepy and exhausted, every day, for so long that they don't remember NOT feeling that way. These folks probably live alone so they don't have someone complaining about their loud snoring!
They know they probably have sleep apnea but are in denial about it being a serious health problem.
They know they probably have sleep apnea but have heard such horror stories about sleep studies and treatment with CPAP that they are avoiding the whole thing!

Do you, or a loved one, fit one of these descriptions? Sleep apnea is serious but it can be treated without using a CPAP machine. Oral appliances are highly effective and very comfortable.

Find out more about sleep apnea by contacting Florida sleep apnea dentist Dr. Kenneth Mogell at 561-394-9000. Proud to be only one of 3 board certified sleep apnea dentists in the State of Florida! Treating sleep apnea patients in Boca Raton, Vero Beach, Jupiter and Port St. Lucie.

Labels: sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

Put Out The Light - Tips To Get To Sleep

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Since I treat so many patients with sleep breathing disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, I spend a lot of time talking to people about sleep.

Not surprisingly, lots of people have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep. What can you do at home, without drugs, to help?

Did you know that the color of the light around you affects your melatonin production? True - red light helps promote the production of this essential sleep hormone and blue light suppresses it. The big problem in modern life is that we are surrounded by blue light.

Do you read on your tablet computer before sleep? Blue light right in your face. Do you check Facebook one last time before lights out? Again, blue light in your face.

Watching TV before sleeping is no better - it is another source of blue light. The best thing to do before bed is read a good, old fashioned book made from dead trees!

Check the bulbs in the lamps next to your bed - some light bulbs offer more light in the red spectrum and some (cool white) offer more blue light. Also look at all of the LED displays in your bedroom. There is probably a light on the cable box, one on the TV, another on the alarm clock, and they are all probably blue! A small piece of electrical tape can solve that problem.

If you feel very sleepy during the day but got a full night of sleep the night before, it may be time to be checked for a sleep disorder. Contact us today at 561-394-9000 to schedule a consultation.

Labels: sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

Catching Up On Sleep?

Monday, November 11, 2013

The website CareerBuilder did a survey about why people call out sick.

Almost 20% of survey respondents said that they had called in sick to catch up on sleep. Which is a good thing, I guess. You don't want a sleepy employee deciding whether or not you get your house loan or a sleepy lab tech running your tests...

The most common reason people called in sick, other than actually being sick? Just didn't feel like going to work! Yup, a full one-third of respondents said they had called in sick just because they didn't feel like working that day.

I wonder if they also caught up on some sleep? If you are feeling sleepy during the day you might have sleep apnea. Give us a call to schedule your screening appointment at 561-394-9000.

Labels: sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

Being Tired is Not Normal

Thursday, July 11, 2013

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is trying to spread the word that being tired is not normal. "Far too many people accept sleep deprivation and sleepiness as a way of life. They see treatment of sleep illnesses as optional. In reality, countless studies have connected sleep illnesses with severe health consequences," said Dr. Safwan Badr, president of the Academy.

The Centers for Disease Control say that sleep problems in American are a "public health epidemic". 70 million of us have sleep problems and about 60% of those have a serious, chronic problem like obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep disorders affect your physical, mental and emotional health. Patients experience reduced daytime alertness, poor memory and decision making functions and the disrupted nighttime sleep does not allow the body to receive adequate, healing rest. New research shows that sleep deprived couples fight more than those who are rested.

Proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders can dramatically improve your quality of life. Imagine having your energy back! Mood, productivity and overall health are changed for the better.

Remember that only a board certified sleep doctor can diagnose sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment of sleep apnea using an oral appliance is a comfortable and easy-to-use choice for many patients. Only a dentist can provide an oral appliance to treat sleep apnea and patients should seek a dentist with extensive training in treating patients with sleep disorders.

In South Florida your experienced sleep apnea dentist is Dr. Ken Mogell. Contact us today to schedule your consultation at 561-394-9000.

Labels: oral appliance, sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

Fibromyalgia May Be Linked to Poor Sleep

Monday, January 09, 2012

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. Research from Norway suggests that poor sleep may increase the risk of developing fibromyalgia in women. According to the study the risk of fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared to younger women.

About 5 million people in the US suffer from fibromyalgia and most are women. Prior scientific studies have shown that waking at night, fatigue and insomnia are common in people with the condition. This study shows that the sleep problems occur before the patients develop fibromyalgia. Dr. Paul Mork explained "Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women. We found a dose-response relation, where women who often reported sleep problems had a greater risk of fibromyalgia than those who never experienced sleep problems."

While many people suffer from insomnia or waking at night, others suffer sleep disturbances because of their bed partner's sleep problems. Loud snoring or the snoring and gasping sounds of a bed partner with sleep apnea provide continual interruptions throughout the night for both parties. The big difference is the partner with sleep apnea doesn't remember the wakings but the exhausted spouse can detail the night all too clearly.
If a bed partner's sleep issues are affecting your health it is time to get a diagnosis and put a stop to the snoring once and for all. Not everyone that snores has obstructive sleep apnea but an oral appliance created by Boca Raton sleep medicine dentist Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell can quiet that snore and allow an open, quiet airway all night long. For more information please contact us at 561-394-9000 today.

Labels: fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, snoring

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.