Sleep Apnea Sufferers who are Tired of CPAP Turn to Sleep Apnea Dentists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 11, 2008 --

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Sleep Apnea Sufferers who are Tired of CPAP Turn to Sleep Apnea Dentists

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http://WWW.ihatecpap.com

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are usually prescribed CPAP therapy. CPAP is considered the Gold Standard of therapy. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) now considers Oral Appliances a first line treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea. A majority of patients who are offered a choice of Oral appliances and CPAP prefer the comfortable oral appliances. CPAP is still the first choice for patients with severe apnea however that AASM recognizes that they are an alternative treatment for patients who do not tolerate CPAP. Information about oral appliances is available at http://www.ihatecpap.com. The National Sleep Foundation strong supports Sleep Apnea Dentist and Dental Sleep Medicine and declared oral appliances a “Therapy Whose time has come.”

Studies have shown that only 23-45% of patients prescribed CPAP actually use it. This is a serious problem because more than half of patients diagnosed with this dangerous disease are left untreated. Obstructive sleep apnea is the collapse of the airway during sleep, which leaves untreated patients with a six-fold increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. Sleep apnea also has been implicated in Alzheimer’s and dementia, problems with insulin resistance, and changes in hormonal regulation and immune response for diseases and cancer.

Drowsy driving is a major problem associated with sleep apnea. According to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) patients who snore have a 300% increase in motor vehicle accidents. Patients who have untreated sleep apnea have slower reaction times than patients who are legally drunk. A report from the American Thoracic Society showed a 300% increase in motor vehicle accidents with serious physical injury in patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea and NO SYMPTOMS of daytime sleepiness.

The Big Sleep Show was held in Chicago on May 9-10 and Dr Ira L Shapira, a Gurnee dentist lectured on oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP for patients. Dr Shapira is a pioneer of Dental Sleep Medicine who became interested when his three-year-old son, Billy was struggling in his sleep. Dr Shapira recognized there was a problem but the pediatrician and ENT assured him there was no need for treatment. When Billy was 5 years old he was held back from starting kindergarten. Dr Shapira took his son to Rush Medical School for a sleep test, which showed severe apnea. After removal of tonsils and orthodontics the sleep disordered breathing was corrected and Bill became a straight A student graduating from college with a double major/double minor Magna Cum Laude.

Many children are not so lucky. Even though it is known that many ADHD children have sleep disorders it is more common to prescribe Ritalin or other medications than to order sleep tests. Many of these children do not need Ritalin they need good sleep and Oxygen. It has now been shown that there are permanent changes to the brain of children with Sleep Apnea. Snoring, night sweats; bedwetting can all be symptoms of sleep apnea and should never be ignored. The problem can often be corrected with removal of tonsils and/or adenoids in children but many physicians wait for the kids to outgrow the situation and this can have serious lifetime effects. Jaw expansion orthodontically can also be very effective in treating sleep apnea for some patients.

Dr Shapira has been dedicated to advancement of knowledge to diagnose and treat apnea after seeing the dramatic change it made in his son's life. He did research at Rush Medical School as a visiting assistant professor where he worked with Dr Rosalind Cartwright PhD who led the way in the acceptance of oral appliances for treating sleep apnea. Dr Shapira was one of 20 dentists charter members of the Sleep Disorder Dental Society 18 years ago. He was a credentialed member of that group which later became the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and a founding member of DOSA, the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea.

Dr Shapira formed I HATE CPAP! LLC to promote distribution of information on sleep apnea and Dental Sleep Medicine. His Web Site is the premiere site for information about oral appliances and dental sleep medicine. His site has a find a dentist area to help patients locate Sleep Apnea Dentists.

Dr Shapira has recently formed a new company Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine associates and will be establishing offices across Chicagoland dedicated to treating sleep apnea with comfortable oral appliances. Dr Shapira teaches courses to Dentists from across the U.S. in Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Richard Lin and Dr Kevin Ladesic are two of his graduates who will be working with Dr Shapira to bring better sleep to patients across Chicagoland.

Information about sleep apnea treatment can be obtained at www.ihatecpap.com or toll free at 8-NO-PAP-MASK. Dr Shapira is currently seeing patients in his Gurnee office. Additional offices will soon be announced. Chicagoland sleep centers are already familiar with his titration protocols for dental appliances. He has lectured to sleep technicians at University of Chicago sleep center, Merit Sleep Centers, Alexian Brothers, Evanston and Glenbrook hospitals and Sleep and Behavioral Medicine. He has also been involved in Accreditation Evaluations for several sleep centers.

Sleep and Health Journal is dedicated to informing patients about sleep and sleep disorders. Dr Shapira is the Dental Section Editor and a frequent author. The journal is available online at http://www.sleepandhealth.com

In the 1990's Dr Shapira lectured at the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine on Anti-Aging Dentistry and taught Physicians how to help patients with oral appliances. He treated hundreds of physicians during his courses. He also returned to Rush as an Assistant Professor and treated sleep apnea patients with oral appliances.

More information can be found online at http://WWW.ihatecpap.com

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