Can We Help You Achieve Better Sleep? Let’s Talk About Obstructive Sleep Apnea There are a lot of reasons why you may be having trouble with sleep. Sleep apnea tends to be the last of reasons that people suspect, if they’ve even heard of it. Yet, it’s a very common condition. There are more than 3 million U.S. cases per year, and while it can be chronic (lasting years), that doesn’t mean it’s permanent. Your obstructive sleep apnea can be fixed by your dentist — for good.
have trouble concentrating, high blood pressure, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. These are all common warning signs of OSA. Naturally, anyone who can observe your sleep is more likely to notice sleep apnea before you will. WHO’S AT HIGHEST RISK? Anyone, even children, can have sleep apnea. However, it’s most common among men, older adults, people who are overweight, or those who have certain diseases or conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Having small airways in your nose, throat, or mouth or having too much tissue at the back of your throat can also warrant concern. A family history of sleep apnea can be a huge risk factor, as well. Treatment for sleep apnea usually starts with CPAP therapy, which means using a CPAP machine to help you breathe. However, surgical treatment is also available. There’s a reason why dentists are often the first people who find out whether or not you have sleep apnea: We can take a better look at your throat and detect excess tissue in your airways. If you’re worried about your own sleep or a loved one’s, call Livingston Dental and take a step toward peaceful sleep again.
WHAT’S OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)? If you have something partially (or even fully) blocking your upper airway while you sleep, your diaphragm and chest muscles have to work twice as hard to breathe. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea can have very shallow breathing while sleeping or even stop breathing entirely for a short while. They may start breathing again with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk but be totally unaware that it’s happening. WAIT, SO HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE OSA? During the night, you may feel restlessness while trying to sleep, wake up suddenly and feel like you’re choking, or have trouble getting up in the morning. You may experience headaches and fatigue during the day or a dry mouth or sore throat when waking up. Maybe you
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I walked away after that; it wasn’t a big deal, but I didn’t trust the parenting feedback of someone who had never raised kids. When I got inside, I noticed David was watching by the window. He looked at me and asked, “What did the neighbor want?” I made sure to do the opposite of what our neighbor did. I didn’t point fingers. “He isn’t happy with how we are taking care of Queenie,” I told him. I didn’t put all the blame on David, although we had wanted him to be her caretaker. Yet, he still understood he needed to do better, for other people’s sakes. While David owns two dogs now and is a wonderful owner, those years of having Queenie as a part of our family probably taught David how to properly take care of a dog. Although we haven’t adopted another dog yet, we’ve been busy with chickens — a completely different ball game, but we enjoy having fresh eggs all the time. Maybe you can’t replace a best friend, but you can always find one at a local shelter or pound. If you’re considering welcoming a furry friend into your family, I highly recommend it.
Classic Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup, too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl.
Ingredients
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
• 1 cup canned light coconut milk • 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions
1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
3 Livingston Dental
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