Inside Sleep with The Snoring Doctor Issue #1

Hello!

Welcome to the first issue of Inside Sleep with The Snoring Doctor, a monthly newsletter about sleep, snoring, and sleep apnea. I’m Dr. Ben Cilento, “The Snoring Doctor,” and I’m excited to use this newsletter to keep you informed about what’s happening in your sleep.

45% of adults snore, and around 22% have obstructive sleep apnea, and these issues do a lot more than mess up your sleep schedule. Snoring and sleep apnea are linked to heart disease, diabetes, increased risk of stroke, and more.

Uncle Jack snoring after Thanksgiving dinner isn’t quite as funny now, huh?

The good news is that these conditions are treatable. On the second Tuesday of every month, this newsletter will provide you with the latest information about snoring, sleep apnea, and how to treat those conditions, along with dispelling sleep myths and offering tips to help you sleep better.

Better breathing and a good night’s sleep are possible! I’m here to help you understand how.

In this month’s edition, we’ll talk about a new review of the relationship between pregnancy and sleep disorders, a potential CPAP alternative, and the facts about a common sleep myth.

Let’s rub that morning gunk out of our eyes and get to it.

Catching Up On Sleep: A Current Events Roundup

Review explores relationship between sleep disorders and pregnancy

Pregnancy presents many challenges, including disrupted sleep patterns. Almost half of pregnant women experience reduced sleep due to factors like increased bladder pressure, fetal movements, and difficulty finding a comfortable position.

To further complicate matters, various sleep disorders like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) can emerge due to physiological changes influenced by hormonal shifts.

Between 3-64% of pregnant women snore during their third trimester, and 25-37% suffer from OSA in that time. I know there are countless things to worry about during pregnancy, and expecting mothers hardly need another one tacked onto that list.

But sleep-disordered breathing, particularly OSA, is influenced by factors like obesity and gestational weight gain. No matter who you are, sleep apnea is dangerous, but it’s particularly threatening in these circumstances.

Poor sleep during pregnancy has been linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, cesarean sections, large-for-gestational-age babies, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Additionally, circadian rhythm disruptions, like delayed sleep timing or shift work, can lead to postpartum depression and gestational diabetes.

The study points out that despite all of the research we have, more information is needed regarding the impact of sleep disorders on pregnancy. Overall, everyone should take sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea seriously.

If you’re struggling with your sleep, pregnant or not, speak with your healthcare provider to find a solution that works for you.

New Clinical Trial Suggests an Effective CPAP Alternative

I love my CPAP machine—sure, it’s bulky and a little funny looking, but it’s been absolutely essential to my health, well-being, and longevity.

As a severe sleep apnea patient myself, I know CPAPs can be uncomfortable, but I’m grateful for mine. However, new clinical trials from ProSomnus indicate that their oral appliance therapy (OAT) could be an effective alternative to CPAP machines for patients suffering from moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The study showed OAT worked for 90% of patients with moderate sleep apnea and 85% with severe sleep apnea. They split treatments in the trial, with some receiving OAT and others getting CPAP, and 98% of OAT patients continued therapy at three months compared to 22% of CPAP users. It’s hard not to be impressed by those numbers. CPAP adherence is a frequent issue for users, with many electing to simply breathe worse instead of wearing the mask.

However, we need to be level-headed about this release. The trial contained only a 136-patient sample, and it was designed by ProSomnus—the company behind this specific precision oral appliance therapeutic. Those are major caveats, and I’ll be interested to see how the results hold up in an independent study.

With that said, I’ve seen oral appliances—specifically those designed by dentists—work wonders for patients. Given the recent complaints and recalls of the Philips CPAP Machine, many patients are probably eager to find anything that safely and effectively helps them sleep. Hopefully, this OAT could be the real deal for them.

Sleep Mythbusting

The Truth: Sleep doesn’t work that way. You can’t just allocate hours throughout the day to meet a certain threshold of sleep time. If you’re taking particularly long naps, you could be further dis-regulating your sleep cycle as you go. Not to mention, you’ll probably wake up feeling more groggy than refreshed.

Nothing can replace the benefits of proper sleep. Your body needs to progress through the stages of sleep each night, and if that’s not happening, you need to find out why. The fix could be as simple as building a relaxing routine and cutting out screen time before bed, but it may also require some medical intervention.

Snoring and sleep apnea disrupt the sleep of millions around the world. Addressing those issues with your doctor could dramatically change your life for the better. But if you still need that nap first, try to keep it to 30 minutes or less, and give your doctor a call when you wake up.

Sleep Clip of the Month

Not sure what’s behind your snoring? Nasal obstructions are often the culprit behind snoring issues, so understanding what’s happening in your nose could be the key to unlocking your best night’s sleep. Check out the video for more information!

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Spotlight

Most people have some familiarity with the CPAP machine, but this month, I want to highlight a different treatment option that’s worked wonders for many of my patients—The Inspire Implant. Inspire is a tiny device implanted in your body that keeps your airway open using small pulses. It’s a remarkable device, and all it takes is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.

Once we’ve completed the procedure, I work with my patients to fine-tune their implant’s settings, just as you would a CPAP machine. Instead of putting on their mask every night, all they need to do now is press a button on a remote and tuck in for some shut-eye.

If you want to learn a little more about Inspire, check out our explainer video here.

How to further connect with The Snoring Doctor:

If you’d like to hear the latest sleep news, you’re in the right place.

To join in on the conversation, you can follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you’re ready to get treatment for your snoring and sleep apnea, reach out here to request an appointment.

Sweet dreams and happy breathing,

Dr. Ben Cilento, “The Snoring Doctor”

Have friends or colleagues looking for information to improve their sleep? Hit the share button below! If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe here.

P.S.