H Charles Jelinek Jr DDS April 2019

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WORLDS WITHIN PAGES BOOKS TO ENGAGE THE WHOLE FAMILY

OSA occurs when the jaw, throat, and tongue muscles relax, blocking the airway. The resulting lack of oxygen can last for a minute or longer and occur hundreds of times each night. Severe OSA and other forms of sleep apnea can be life-threatening, so treatment is important.

Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea: • Loud or chronic snoring • Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep • •

Long pauses in breathing

Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spent in bed

Other common signs: •

Waking up feeling out of breath

Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating

Morning headaches

Restless or fitful sleep

Moodiness, irritability, or depression

Insomnia or nighttime awakenings

Erectile dysfunction

Going to the bathroom frequently during the night

Learning to read opens up a world of possibilities. When your child walks through the back of the wardrobe into Narnia with Lucy Pevensie or rides with Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts, they connect to something beyond their own experiences. In the U.S., April 23 is World Book Day, and the date commemorates the deaths of legendary authors Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as the birth of author Vladimir Nabokov. World Book Day is the perfect time to sit down with your family and let yourself be transported to new worlds. So, here are three great stories to help you take young readers on brand-new adventures. “Song of the Wild” makes a great read-aloud book for beginner readers because they can get lost in the beautiful artwork while you read the text. Written in prose and rhyming poems, this book showcases sprawling landscapes — savannahs, jungles, and oceans — and features the wildlife living there. It’s worth a read simply to appreciate the colorful depictions of each animal. This book was written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Petr Horácek. For the Middle Schooler: ‘The Night Diary’ 12-year-old Nisha navigates her world after the partition of India creates the new country of Pakistan and her family is forced to leave their home. Her mother may be gone, but Nisha finds solace in writing nightly letters to her in her diary as she discovers what the future holds. Based on author Veera Hiranandani’s memories of her own family, this moving tale lets readers experience life through someone else’s eyes. For Teens: ‘Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World’ While some might not think of comics as proper reading, Penelope Bagieu’s graphic novel forces reconsideration. Her clever, colorful artwork and engaging narrative take the reader through the biographies of 30 women, from Bette Davis and Mae Jemison to lesser-known but equally intriguing ladies like Giorgina Reid. All in all, this book provides a great way to get kids excited about history in an entertaining form. For the Elementary Reader: ‘Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals’

Fortunately, there are treatments available to help manage OSA. Potential treatments include oral appliances, surgery to remove the obstruction, wearing machines called CPAPs that force oxygen into the nose or mouth, and a pace maker-type device that shocks the tongue. The type of treatment that’s best for you depends on the severity of your OSA and the specific cause, including your jaw and facial formation. Only someone familiar with all the causes and treatments can help you make decisions regarding which therapy is best for you. Once therapy is initiated, one should schedule follow-up appointments to assess its effectiveness. Otherwise, you’ll never know if the treatment is helping you avoid the life-altering consequences of OSA. By the way, Jim has sleep apnea as well, which contributed to him being so tired and grumpy. I referred him for a sleep study after Kathy told me her marital woes and I saw some unexplained chipping on his front teeth when he came in for routine care. Kathy and Jim each wear their own oral appliances and are now back in the same bedroom. As many readers may already know, I also live with sleep apnea. Since I began wearing an oral appliance every night, I sleep easier, feel great, and haven’t succumbed to daily naps. Even better, I know my wife is resting easier each night because she isn’t worried about me, and I’m not keeping her awake. I was clueless that I had sleep apnea until I underwent a sleep study. If any of the above mentioned symptoms sound familiar to you, please call our office for a sleep apnea consultation. You don’t have to go to bed each night wondering if you’ll wake up rested the next morning. Let us help you and your loved ones find relief. Snoring isn’t a prerequisite for having a sleep disorder. It’s just one of the signs that you might have one.

— H. Charles Jelinek, Jr., DDS

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