Good Sleep is a Wonder Drug, the best medicine for your health!

As we reverse the clock arm one full circle, thanks to the end of Daylight Saving Time, we hope to gain more sleep and therefore start the day with more vital energy. Unfortunately, poor sleep is the 21st century epidemic and the root cause of many systemic diseases that decrease quality of life and increase mortality rates in our society.

Recently, I have begun to read the health coaching book titled, “OUTLIVE”, written by Peter Attia, MD.

It is fascinatingly written with many entertaining personal testimonies. I found a wealth of impactful information backed by up to date research and relevant to current epidemics of the health crisis that I see in my own practice.

From just merely surviving and lengthening our years of life, which is “to live in mediocrity of health and die slowly”, and the current healthcare system of reactive care, Dr. Attia suggests the proactive ways to enhance our health so we can thrive to older age, savoring quality of life, and die quickly after outliving in optimal health.

So what do we do to outlive?

Most people know the importance of healthy eating and regular exercising, but often fail to regard the significance of GOOD SLEEP!

In fact, Dr. Attia dedicates an entire chapter on the importance of sleep to outlive as he discusses his own near death experiences from sleep deprivation during his residency years.

He writes:

“After ignoring sleep for decades, I’m now a fan. I consider it a kind of performance-enhancing substance, not only physically but cognitively. Long term, this thing called sleep also has the power to improve our health-span in remarkable ways. Just like exercise, sleep is its own kind of wonder drug, with both global and localized benefits to the brain, to the heart, and especially to our metabolism.”

The dilemma is, however, many people have serious nasal obstruction and drooping of soft palate and tongue during sleep that lead to sleep disordered breathing such as mouth breathing and snoring, precursors to developing Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

This condition is called SDB, sleep disordered breathing and it is much prevalent in our society. SDB is found to be a major root cause of numerous health threats such as heart attack, metabolic disorders like Type II Diabetes, and even cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The question is, then, what do we have to do to breathe better and achieve a good and restorative sleep? As a guardian of your oral and airway health, we have many helpful health tips and treatments to improve your sleep time breathing so you can get a Good Sleep!

Many of you already have tools at home you can start using to track your sleep including Apple Watch, Oura Ring or simply download the SnoreLab app. Talk to us about your results!

Please visit our website, www.WellBeingDentistry.com for further information on NightLase, a non-surgical, soft palate tightening laser therapy, OraLase, low wavelength laser therapy to get your tongue in the right spot to help with airway patency and much more for your Good Sleep!

Currently these laser therapies are not covered by your insurance but you can use your HSA (Health Saving Accounts) or FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts) before the end of year for your proactive health care.

May you all sleep well and live happily!

Always striving for your Well-being,
From the desk of Dr. Christina Minah Pak
WellBeing Dentistry