Dr. Roxane Katiya DMD, AEGD

Sleep is the fuel that fuels the day. It is an essential function of overall well-being that allows the body to reset and recharge.  Sleep is essential to our functioning. It provides our bodies and brains with the rest and recuperation needed to function optimally and feel good. 

A bad night's sleep can have a negative impact on productivity, concentration, energy, creativity, and the regulation and management of emotions. With today's hectic pace of life, increased responsibilities and heightened feelings of stress and anxiety since the outbreak of the VID-19 pandemic, sleep is often most severely affected. In the long term, a lack of sleep can contribute to the "burn-out" that has been ravaging the province since the beginning of the pandemic, causing thousands of work stoppages across the province. 

Thousands of Quebecers suffer from sleep disorders caused by a silent and insidious killer that is sleep apnea. Apnea is the cessation of breathing several times per hour during sleep. Snoring is also a sleep disorder that can affect the health of people and their partners. 

The most dangerous, sleep apnea, does not allow the body to recover. Sleepiness, fatigue, depression, cholesterol, diabetes, bruxism, irritability, tooth breakage, jaw clenching, headaches can be symptoms. Failure to manage sleep apnea can shorten life expectancy and is one of the causes of many chronic diseases that impact longevity. Lack of sleep can lead to cognitive problems such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 

Causes of sleep apnea: 

• Obesity

• Hormonal changes of menopause 

• Sagging muscles with age 

• Diabetes type 2

• Depression

• Smoking

• Certain heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation  

What to do if you suspect sleep apnea 

Consult your dentist or physician to perform a sleep architecture study and determine if you have mild, moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea or snoring. Determine the best treatment for you such as CPAP, mandibular advancement device or surgery