Why You Shouldn’t Be Screened for Sleep Apnea if You Don’t Have Symptoms
Since millions have undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, shouldn’t EVERYONE be screened for OSA, even if they don’t have daytime symptoms?
Voiding a Lot of Urine Overnight: Could Be Sleep Apnea
Is your sleep interrupted by the need to urinate, and a LOT of urine usually comes out, even if you avoid liquids for hours before bedtime?
Sleep apnea could be the reason.
Studies linking untreated sleep apnea to having to get up in the middle of the night more than once to urinate have been around for several years.
But it isn’t just a link. There is an explanation.
There are many reasons why the urge to urinate wakes someone up more than once overnight, forcing them out of bed.
Sometimes the urine output is low, which may indicate nighttime overactive bladder, a prolapsed bladder or an enlarged prostate.
But what if you keep peeing and peeing large amounts, even though you abstain from fluids for several hours before going to bed?
This is susepct for untreated obstructive sleep apnea.
Why does sleep apnea cause a lot of urine overnight?
This has nothing to do with the sleep apnea causing someone to wake up several times, and then — as long as they’re awake, they simply decide they may as well visit the loo.
It’s an issue of a full bladder that needs to be emptied.
When sleep apnea goes untreated, it results in more urine production.
“While there are many mechanisms at play, the most relevant involves the production of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is a protein produced by certain muscle cells in the heart,” says Daniel Rifkin, MD, a sleep medicine expert at the Sleep Medicine Centers of Western New York.
“The exact reason why an increase in production occurs remains suspect, but an increase in intrathoracic negative pressure (trying to breathe against a closed throat creates a vacuum in your chest!) stretches some of those cells — and your heart falsely thinks that it’s due to too much blood volume.
“The frequent slowing and speeding up of your heart with apnea events also tricks the heart into thinking it’s working too hard.
“So, increasing ANP tells the kidney to diurese, or urinate, to reduce the volume.
“I tend to see this more commonly in severe sleep apnea than in the milder forms.”
A Study on Sleep Apnea and Urine
CPAP treatment reduces the frequency of nighttime urination, says a Dutch study which was presented at the European Association of Urology conference in London in the spring of 2017.
Dr. Sajjad Rahnama’l from the Maastricht University Medical Centre studied 256 patients who wore a CPAP mask for their obstructive sleep apnea.
Prior to treatment, 69 percent reported having to urinate more than once a night.
After starting CPAP, 65 percent of that 69 percent reported a reduction in peeing frequency.
When Treatments Don’t Work
If you’ve been experiencing “overactive bladder” despite a multitude of treatments (drugs, nutritional supplements, Botox injections, acupuncture, pelvic exercises), you may want to ask your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea — even if you’re not obese.
The kidneys are supposed to be pretty much turned off during sleep so that we can get uninterrupted sleep for optimal restoration.
Dr. Rifkin is board certified in both neurology and sleep medicine. He also treats insomnia, RLS and narcolepsy.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/cliplab
Sources:
sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170327083455.htm
doctorstevenpark.com/sleep-apnea-and-nighttime-urination
Can a Virgin Man Get an HPV Infection ?
HPV is highly contagious and can lead to numerous cancers including that of the penis. So if a man’s never had sex, could he still get infected with this common virus?
SUDDEN Onset Sensitivity of Some Teeth: Causes, Solutions
The sudden onset of sensitivity in one’s teeth can be caused by several uniquely different issues. (more…)
Can a Tooth Problem or Cavity Cause Eye Pain?
Eye pain has quite a few causes, including cancer. However, eye pain can also be caused by a cavity, believe it or not.
Nevertheless, if you’re having seemingly unexplainable pain in an eye, you should first see an ophthalmologist to rule out a serious cause such as a tumor.
Cancer of the eye is very rare (such as ocular melanoma), and even rarer is pain that is caused by the tumor. Symptoms usually involve vision.
So if you’re having pain in the eye, it’s not likely to have a malignant cause.
But as mentioned, you should see an eye physician to rule out the most serious possibility first.
This way you can then breathe easy and focus on possible benign causes of your eye pain, such as a cavity in a tooth.
Cavity in a Tooth and Eye Pain
“Pain from a damaged tooth can ‘radiate,’ causing eye pain, headaches, ear aches, etc.,” says Laurence (Larry) Grayhills, DMD, MS, MAGD, member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
“An infected or abscessed tooth could ‘drain’ into the sinus and establish a sinus infection. This, too, could be a source of pain behind the eye or headache.”
How does a cavity get this bad to begin with? The patient has not had regular dental exams!
“Oh, it’s just teeth,” you might say, if you’re guilty of never having routine dental checkups.
But not only can neglected teeth become a cosmetic issue, this can lead to problems that eventually cause too much pain to ignore.
You then must get extensive dental treatment that leaves a gigantic cavity in your wallet.
If you’ve been having eye pain, it’s likely not cancer (VERY unlikely, actually).
If you haven’t been to the dentist for very long time, the eye pain just might be from a big cavity.
However…it may also be from a pinched nerve in the neck.
Bottom line: Stop putting off seeking a diagnosis.
Dr. Grayhills is with Mohip Dental & Associates, of FL, which provides the highest level of cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic and emergency dental care available.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Can a Novocain Shot Cause Nerve Damage?
Yes, a shot of Novocain can damage a nerve— but the bigger question is if this can be permanent.
Is your upcoming visit to the dentist to have a cavity drilled out causing you to lose sleep?
Without an anesthetic drug, you would not be able to tolerate the feeling of the drill.
The drug, such as Novocain, is absolutely necessary to prevent feeling the drilling.
Oddly, some people are more fearful of permanent damage caused by the injection of the anesthetic than the drilling.
“The needle used for the injection could ‘brush’ the nerve and ‘traumatize’ it, says Laurence (Larry) Grayhills, DMD, MS, MAGD, who is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
“However, I don’t believe there has been a reported case of permanent nerve damage from an injection.”
The drug itself cannot permanently damage a nerve. What some patients fear is if the dentist slips up with the needle and accidentally “hits” a nerve the wrong way, cutting it and permanently deadening it.
Like Dr. Grayhills says, the needle may graze the nerve and irritate it, but there hasn’t been a reported case of permanent damage.
There are other drugs used to numb a nerve besides Novocain.
But again, a person is likely more concerned about that needle rather than an anesthetic drug causing permanent damage.
Dr. Grayhills explains, “Novocain is not used in dentistry anymore due to its allergic potential.
“I am not aware of any nerve damage from the medications currently in use (i.e., Lidocaine, Articane, Mepivicane, etc.).”
Dr. Grayhills is with Mohip Dental & Associates, of FL, which provides the highest level of cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic and emergency dental care available.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Jaromir Chalabala
Excess Sitting vs. Untreated Sleep Apnea: Which Is Worse?
Excess sitting is dangerous in so many ways, but so is untreated sleep apnea. Which is worse for the body?
Both can lead to heart disease and other ailments. (more…)
How Fast Can Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Grow and Kill?
A small aneurysm seemingly ballooned in size and unexpectedly killed a woman.
Violet (Sue) Livene Nelson, 80, collapsed in her home in Wokingham, Berkshire, England, in 2016.
2012 Diagnosis of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
As of March 2012 the dilation measured just 3.6 cm. Her general physician did not refer her to a vascular specialist.
If you’ve been diagnosed with even the smallest abdominal aortic aneurysms, or a “dilation,” “dilatation” or “enlargement,” then you absolutely should seek out a consultation with a specialist, which would be a vascular surgeon.
Nelson was only instructed to come back to her primary doctor for annual reviews to check on the growth. She complied for 2013 and 2014.
How fast did this abdominal aortic aneurysm grow?
In 2013 it had grown minimally, to 3.7 cm. Oddly, in 2014 the scan showed 3.4 cm.
The protocol at the Wokingham clinic at the time was that 5.5 cm was the cutoff point for which a patient would automatically be referred to a specialist.
This is why the general practitioner never referred her, thinking she was in a safe zone with the 3.6, 3.7 and 3.4 cm measurements.
So based on this information so far, it may seem that actually, it’s NOT crucial to immediately seek out a vascular physician if you’re told you have an AAA measuring three point something centimeters, or even something in the low four range.
But this story takes an unexpected turn.
Nelson, for reasons nobody will ever know, failed to make follow-up appointments for 2015 and 2016. She also had never told her husband about the 2012 diagnosis.
Her husband had told the coroner that in the several days preceding her death, she had not been well, but on the morning of her fatal collapse in the kitchen, she had seemed better.
Did the abdominal aortic aneurysm really grow THAT fast?
A postmortem report showed that the AAA was about 10 cm.
How could the abdominal aortic aneurysm, measuring only 3.4 cm in 2014, grow fast enough to swell up to 10 cm only three years later?
The 10 cm bulge turned out to be much higher up in the thoracic cavity than was the original, much smaller bulge that was found in 2012!
The coroner, Peter Bedford, consulted with vascular surgeon Jack Collin, MD, about this odd situation.
Dr. Collin pointed out that a general practitioner would not have known to refer a patient to a specialist over a 3.6 cm aneurysm, especially since two years later it had apparently shrunk.
However, a referral could have saved her life, because, as Dr. Collin stated in the report, a specialist would have conducted a more thorough scan.
The report states that a specialist would have suspected that the small dilation was actually the lower portion of a much larger aneurysm!
As a result of this investigation, the Wokingham Medical Practice has now implemented a system in which any-size AAA nets a referral to a vascular specialist.
Thus, as you can see, this situation turned out to be a missed larger aneurysm rather than a super-fast growing aneurysm. Warning: graphic image below of an AAA.
Hertzer NR, CC
Nevertheless, how fast CAN an abdominal aortic aneurysm increase in size?
“Most AAA’s, approximately 75%, are found when the patient is asymptomatic,” says Sendhil Krishnan, MD, a board-certified adult general cardiologist with advanced subspecialty training in interventional cardiology.
“As the aneurysm gets bigger it tends to grow faster due to the pressure that is placed on the arterial wall.
“An analogy to consider is like blowing up a balloon. When you first start to blow the balloon it takes a lot more effort for it to expand.
“However, once it has reached a certain size it becomes easier for the balloon to expand and be inflated quicker.
“When an aneurysm is typically under 5 cm the rate of growth is about 0.25 cm per year with only a 1% risk of rupture. As it gets larger the risk of rupture gets higher as well as the rate of growth.”
“Typically patients should continue to be monitored closely. Often doctors will place patients on beta blockers which will help reduce the sheer stress on the aortic wall.”
Smoking and untreated high blood pressure are major risk factors.
Dr. Krishnan is with Pacific Heart & Vascular, where you can view his videos on heart disease and healthy living. He has numerous publications and often speaks at local and regional events.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: BruceBlaus
Source: wokinghampaper.com/coroner-calls-changes-woman-dies-missed-aneurysm/
Why Does the Tongue Tingle or Burn Days After Root Canal?
The tongue may have a tingling or burning sensation for even much more than a few days following a root canal.
This can be unsettling to patients, making them wonder if the tingling or burning will ever go away.
Cause of Tinging, Burning Tongue after a Root Canal Treatment
“When dental procedure is performed on a lower tooth, the dentist will often recommend the numbing of the tooth to make the dental experience more comfortable,” explains Laurence (Larry) Grayhills, DMD, MS, MAGD, member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
“The goal of the dentist is to numb the inferior alveolar nerve (the main ‘pipeline’ nerve that runs through the lower jaw, supplying the teeth with feeling),” continues Dr. Grayhills.
“An unfortunate ‘bystander’ on the way to the inferior alveolar nerve is the lingual nerve which gives the tongue sensation.
“The lingual nerve is an unfortunate victim by the injection on the way to the inferior alveolar nerve.
“Not only is it numbed, sometimes the injection mildly traumatizes the lingual nerve in the attempt to numb lower teeth.
“It can leave a tingle or numb feeling in the tongue for up to a month. This numbness is reversible in most cases.”
Dr. Grayhills is with Mohip Dental & Associates, of FL, which provides the highest level of cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic and emergency dental care available.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ pathdoc
When Should Gums Stop Bleeding After a Deep Cleaning?
Are your gums left bleeding after a deep cleaning from your dentist or hygienist?
First off, do not be alarmed if a deep cleaning has left your gums bleeding.
“Gums heal very quickly,” begins Laurence (Larry) Grayhills, DMD, MS, MAGD, member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
“Just as a cut or scrape responds within a matter of days of cleaning a wound, removing bacteria-laden calculus (aka, tartar) by a dental professional will produce results within 24 hours,” continues Dr. Grayhills.
“One will notice a reduction of inflammation (red, swollen gums) returning to a nice firm consistency with an ‘orange peel’ stippling.
“In light skinned individuals, the change from red, bleeding gums will transform to non-bleeding coral pink.
“In dark skinned individuals, the color change may not be as obvious, but the transformation to non-bleeding occurs within days.
“It’s important to note that unless meticulous home care is maintained, this type of healing may not occur.
“Flossing is the most important procedure to prevent gingivitis ( irritated, bleeding gums) and periodontitis (loss of bony support around your teeth).”
Tips on How to Prevent Bleeding Gums after a Professional Cleaning
Shutterstock/Q-stock
The dental professional uses a sharp tool for the scraping portion of the cleaning. The actual polishing may also be more aggressive than what the patient is used to.
So if you are not a regular flosser, you can expect some blood after the cleaning.
If you hate flossing or can never remember to do it, at least make a point to begin flossing three weeks from your dental appointment, to give your gums enough time to “toughen up” for the professional scraping and cleaning.
Floss thoroughly, and do not be alarmed if this draws blood. Do not be alarmed if you taste blood.
After several days of thorough flossing, you’ll be bleeding a lot less. In under a week you should not be bleeding at all.
- Do not skip any days.
- Do not go to sleep with meat and other food stuck between your teeth.
- Floss after the meal if possible.
Finally, when brushing your teeth, make sure to brush behind them as well, and also gently brush your upper and lower gums!
Dr. Grayhills is with Mohip Dental & Associates, of FL, which provides the highest level of cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic and emergency dental care available.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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