World Sleep Day – Healthy Sleep, Healthy Aging

Did you “spring forward” last weekend, but seem to have lost the “spring in your step”… or do you find yourself tired, irritable and have difficulty concentrating everyday? Sleep problems constitute a global epidemic that threatens health and quality of life for up to 45% of the world’s population! Quality, not quantity, of sleep is essential to day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life!

There are three elements of good quality sleep:

• Duration: The length of sleep should be sufficient for the sleeper to be rested and alert the following day.
• Continuity: Sleep periods should be seamless without fragmentation.
• Depth: Sleep should be deep enough to be restorative.

Plain and simple, More Sleep = Better Health! Conversely, when sleep fails, health declines, decreasing quality of life. Research shows that we spend up to one-third of our lives sleeping. Sleep is a basic human need, much like eating and drinking, and regularly getting adequate amounts of restful sleep is essential to our long-term health!

World Sleep Day

In the advancement of worldwide sleep health, the World Sleep Society is raising awareness with its 12th annual World Sleep Day® on Friday, March 15, 2019. This is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society (founded by WASM and WSF) and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year.

Their 2019 slogan: “Healthy Sleep, Healthy Aging,” emphasizes the importance of sleep in overall health at any age, and the realization that quality of life can be improved with regular, healthy sleep. World Sleep Society has compiled ten tips for healthier night’s sleep:

Principles of good sleep for Adults:

1. Fix a bedtime and an awakening time.
2. If you are in the habit of taking siestas, do not exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep.
3. Avoid excessive alcohol ingestion 4 hours before bedtime and do not smoke.
4. Avoid caffeine 6 hours before bedtime. This includes coffee, tea and many sodas, as well as chocolate.
5. Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods 4 hours before bedtime. A light snack before bed is acceptable.
6. Exercise regularly, but not right before bed.
7. Use comfortable bedding.
8. Find a comfortable temperature setting for sleeping and keep the room well ventilated.
9. Block out all distracting noise and eliminate as much light as possible.
10. Reserve the bed for sleep and sex. Don’t use the bed as an office, workroom or recreation room.

Principles of good sleep for Children (birth to age 12)

1. Go to bed at the same time every night, preferably before 9:00PM.
2. Have an age-appropriate nap schedule.
3. Establish a consistent bedtime routine.
4. Make your child’s bedroom sleep conducive – cool, dark, and quiet.
5. Encourage your child to fall asleep independently.
6. Avoid bright light at bedtime and during the night, and increase light exposure in the morning.
7. Avoid heavy meals and vigorous exercise close to bedtime.
8. Keep all electronics, including televisions, computers, and cell phones, out of the bedroom and limit the use of electronics before bedtime.
9. Avoid caffeine, including many sodas, coffee, and teas (as well as iced tea).
10. Keep a regular daily schedule, including consistent mealtimes.

How Does Sleep Impact our Health?

Quality sleep is crucial to ensure good health and quality of life. Statistics reveal that 35% of people do not feel they get enough sleep! Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep is known to have a significant negative impact on our health in the long and short term. Next day effects of poor quality sleep include a negative impact on our attention span, memory recall and learning. Longer term effects are being studied, but poor quality sleep or sleep deprivation has been associated with significant health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, weakened immune systems and even some cancers. Lack of sleep is also related to many psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and psychosis. Most sleep disorders are preventable or treatable, so why do sufferers rarely seek professional help? Dr. Greg Greenberg at RxSmile Orthodontics says it’s time to change that statistic! He is an airway-friendly orthodontist and his airway-specific training makes him uniquely qualified to screen, recognize symptoms, and assist in diagnosis of a variety of sleep breathing problems.

Sleep Breathing Problems

Breathing regularly during sleep is critical to maintain well-being and health. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). OSA is a disorder of repeated episodes of interrupted breathing caused by partial to complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep. The collapse of the airway may be due to factors such as a large tongue, extra tissue or decreased muscle tone holding the airway open. Each breathing pause can last from 10 seconds to more than a minute and is accompanied by a drop in oxygen associated with each event. The events may occur 5 to 50 times or more each hour. This puts a strain on the heart and can lead to a number of serious health conditions (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, NIH, 2009). Individuals are rarely aware of difficult breathing even after waking. Children suffering from OSA do not know what it is like to experience deep sleep and will not be able to tell you they didn’t sleep well.

Did you know that 80 percent of Type II and Type III obstructive sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed? Don’t let that be you! Untreated sleep apnea may lead to heart diseases, stroke, and vascular dementia. Studies show that effective treatment of OSA in children can partially to completely reverse the symptoms and long-term consequences, and eliminate adult sleep apnea, provided treatment is administered in a timely fashion.

Does your child breathe loudly or snore during sleep and exhibit some of the following symptoms:

DAYTIME SYMPTOMS (Behavioral Problems)
• Decreased performance / learning problems in school
• Attention and concentration problems
• Hyperactivity – sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as ADD/ADHD
• Irritability and/or aggressiveness
• Shyness and social withdrawal
• Daytime sleepiness

NIGHTTIME SYMPTOMS (Bedroom Observations)
• Habitual loud mouth breathing or snoring
• Frequent Bed wetting – even at 9 years and older
• Long pauses in breathing
• Nightmares
• Agitated sleep or unusual sleeping patterns
• Difficulty to wake in the morning

It is critical they be screened for Sleep-Disordered Breathing because children will not outgrow OSA and are predisposed to be apneic as an adult! Do you, or an adult you know, use a CPAP or suffer from sleep apnea? We can help adults too with our oral sleep devices!

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A complimentary sleep screening includes:

• i-CAT 3D airway scan – this state-of-the-art imaging system captures a high-definition 3D full model of your mouth and airway passages. This higher level of detail allows measurement of sinus and airway passages in order to automatically compute the total airway volume, and view segmented areas of constriction to aid in the treatment planning of obstructive sleep apnea and other airway disorders. In a few seconds, our 3D Orthodontics imaging gives a safe diagnosis, with less radiation, while patients are seated in a comfortable, open-air environment.
• Clinical examination – Dr. Greenberg will perform a thorough oral exam, review photos and 3D imaging
• Sleep Questionnaire – answer a few questions about sleep breathing, snoring, sleepiness and potential behavioral problems to assess if a sleep evaluation might be necessary.
• Recommendations for “what to do next” – Dr. Greenberg works in conjunction with certified sleep physicians to formulate and conduct OSA treatment options.

Dr. Greenberg, as an airway-friendly orthodontist, believes it is important to look past the teeth to give a complete picture of the long-term health and development of each patient. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Greg Greenberg at RxSmile Orthodontics to evaluate your obstructive sleep apnea signs/symptoms and discuss practical, non-invasive solutions to improve your sleep/breathing health. Please call 972-335-1300 (Monday through Thursday) or submit an online appointment request and we will respond within one business day.

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Statistical references and talking points from WorldSleepDay.org
Dr. Greg Greenberg is a registered delegate for World Sleep Day. World Sleep Day® is a registered trademark of World Sleep Society.