MD Dela Cruz Dental TMJ Orthodontic Specialty Clinic

15/12/2024

Mental symptoms of sleep apnea are more serious than the temporary grogginess caused by drowsiness. During an apnea (Greek for “without breath”) you actually stop breathing, which starves the brain of oxygen. This duress, paired with chronic fatigue, can is now known to cause physical brain damage.

This brain scan shows that the brain blood flow in a subject with obstructive sleep apnea (left) is markedly lower compared to a subject without the sleep disorder.

The problem is greater in women with sleep apnea, which may explain the worse apnea-related outcomes in females than males.

Researchers at UCLA compared the mammillary bodies—structures in the brain that are important in memory storage—of several adults suffering from sleep apnea with those of healthy people. They found that the bodies in the troubled sleepers were nearly 20% smaller than in their untroubled counterparts

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, hundreds of times a night. Each time breathing stops, the oxygen level in the blood drops, which damages many cells in the body.

The signs are:

• Day time sleepiness
• Anxiety
• Brain fog
• Memory problems
• Cold hands and feet

If left untreated, it can lead to:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke, heart failure
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Alzheimer’s disease

We know there is injury to the brain from sleep apnea, and we also know that the heart has problems pumping blood to the body, and potentially also to the brain.

When measuring blood flow in the brain using a non-invasive MRI procedure: the global blood volume and oxygen dependent (BOLD) signal. This method is usually used to observe brain activity.

Sleep apnea starve the brain and signals from the nerves in the arms and legs are slower due to the damage throughout.

​Snoring, gasping for air, teeth grinding, or restless sleep. These are the signs.
​
​Have you seen them?

17/03/2021

FYI

A new study finds links between gum disease and complications.

The research, which examined more than 500 patients, found those with severe gum disease were up to nine times more likely to die from Covid-19. It also found that patients with oral disease were nearly five times more likely to need assisted ventilation.

Gum disease is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. According to the Oral Health Foundation, gum disease can be easily prevented or managed in its early stages.

Keep in mind that regular dental visits and maintaining an oral care routine of brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing your teeth, and using of specialized mouthwash such as Mouthrinse on a daily basis will help prevent gum disease. The GENGIGEL range of products is clinically proven to treat all stages of gum disease.

For more information, visit: bit.ly/GumDisease-and-Covid-19-complications