For many people, the realization that they’re snorers comes as a shock. Snoring is something other people do, not them, and now their whole self-image is shaken. Not only that, but the realization may come to threaten their relationship, whether it’s a new romance or a long-established marriage. That’s right, people [...]
We recently announced that Denver TMJ dentist Dr. Kevin Berry earned certifications in orofacial pain. This included a Master of Science (MS) in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine from the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California (USC). While working on his MS, Dr. Berry had the opportunity [...]
Do you think you can't do the Colorado Trail or other long hiking trips because CPAP chains you to a power supply? Hiking ten miles and more a day at elevation is extremely difficult when you’re not sleeping well at night, and you can't really bring your CPAP with you. But that doesn't mean [...]
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) can be a life-saving treatment, if people use it. However, CPAP comes with many side effects that make it unpleasant to use. This makes people sleep without CPAP, choosing untreated sleep apnea over their treatment. Understanding these side effects can help you understand how to deal with [...]
Do you sleep looking forward to a great night’s rest only to wake up feeling like you never went to sleep at all? Does this lack of sleep cause you to feel tired throughout the day, affecting your overall concentration and work effort? If so, your lingering daytime sleepiness may be a sign of [...]
One measure of a dentist’s commitment to treating temporomandibular joint disorders (called TMJ or TMD) is their ongoing training in the discipline. All dentists must complete continuing education to maintain their licenses, but a dentist committed to TMJ treatment focuses their education on this and related areas. [...]
Are you waking up with nightmares regularly? Although nightmares themselves may be your problem, for many adults, it's actually sleep apnea that is causing wakeful nights in terror. If you have trouble waking up regularly in a cold sweat with a sense of panic, have your primary care physician refer you for [...]
If you are experiencing headaches, jaw pain, or other symptoms related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ or TMD), it’s not a bad idea to try some jaw exercises to help reduce, relieve, or eliminate symptoms. Jaw exercises are a type of home care for TMJ that can be effective for people looking [...]
Migraines remain mysterious. Despite all our research, we don't really understand what causes them. For people with migraines there are typically many triggers that can lead to the development of headaches. For many people, diet is a big part of their migraine triggers, and when people have a dietary migraine trigger, a [...]
Can your diet be the cause of your headaches? People with migraines blame their headaches on many different food triggers, but research suggests that even for non-migraine sufferers, diet may be a major contributor to headaches. Studies show that headaches may be caused by salt, which is common [...]
With the major link between TMJ and migraines via the trigeminal nerve, it’s understandable that normally when we talk about headaches, we emphasize Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD). However, sleep apnea is also a major contributor to your headache risk, and it can lead to all common types of [...]
Sleep is essential to the fitness of our fighting soldiers. In fact, it’s one part of the performance triad that the army recommends its soldiers observe to maintain battle fitness. It’s also essential to help veterans adapt to civilian life and enjoy a good quality of life after their tours of duty. Unfortunately, sleep [...]
If you suffer from regular headaches, you know that you don’t want to rely too heavily on pain medication. From potential addiction to rebound headaches to kidney and liver damage, there are too many negative consequences of pain medication–including over-the-counter medications–to make them your go-to solution for headaches. The good news [...]
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or you suspect having sleep apnea, you might wonder what treatment options are available to you. Fortunately, sleep apnea treatment has come a long way in the past 20 years. In the past, CPAP was the only available treatment. Today, there is a [...]
A huge congratulations are in order for our very own Dr. Kevin S. Berry who recently obtained a Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine from the prestigious Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry USC. The 37-month program provided Dr. Berry with advanced training and knowledge of orofacial pain and oral medicine including [...]
As a way to get your best night of sleep yet, you might have come across several articles across the internet that say which positions are best and which are the worst. Sleeping on your back is good for X but it’s bad for Z. How do you know which sleep position is actually [...]
If you suffer from both obesity and {{{{link id='16' text='sleep apnea'}}}} you must be able to get the treatment you need. With the use of a CPAP machine or oral appliance therapy, you will find that you feel much more rested and awake during the day. As your energy levels continue [...]
Have you ever heard a neighbor’s car alarm going off for hours on end? That’s kind of what it’s like to live with tinnitus. The only difference is that your neighbor can’t turn off the noise. Tinnitus doesn’t end until you find a treatment that works. The best way to find a treatment that [...]
Over the past few years, we here in Denver have gotten spoiled--it seems we barely had to to break out the snow shovel all season. This year, though, is different, and it seems like it's been one snow storm after another here in the Mile High City. And we have our heaviest snow months of [...]
If you are having frequent headaches, they can be disruptive. It can be hard to work, and even harder to play when you have bad headaches. It can feel very hard to track down the cause of your headaches, too, which makes them even more frustrating. Sleep apnea [...]
If you live with daily migraines, your quality of life is likely a lot lower than you want it to be. You’ve probably tried every migraine treatment you can find and still experience frequent headaches and migraines. At TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado, we offer a headache and migraine treatment [...]
If you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder, called TMJ for short, you’re no stranger to jaw pain. Whether yours is uncomfortable or excruciating, intermittent or constant, jaw pain is a hallmark symptom of TMJ. Although TMJ treatment can help reduce or prevent pain on a larger scale, sometimes [...]
You might think that an overweight Santa snoring away after a long night of indulging in cookies is a cute addition to a cartoon, but snoring can often indicate a much bigger problem going on. Oftentimes, snoring is actually a direct result of carrying too much weight. Carrying excess weight can [...]
We’ve previously noted that {{{{link id='16' text='sleep apnea'}}}} can cause bad morning breath. So, shouldn’t CPAP cure morning breath related to dry mouth during sleep? We would like to think so, especially since mouth drying overnight is associated with an increased risk of cavities. However, for some people, [...]
Imagine having a constant ringing noise in your ears. Sounds annoying, right? For some people, this sensation known as tinnitus can have a huge impact on their quality of life. Most often it causes temporary symptoms, but some people experience persistent and severe symptoms that can make every day feel bothersome. Fortunately, at TMJ [...]
Along with being dubbed both National Yoga Month and National Potato Month, September is also on the calendar for a significantly less fun observance: National Pain Awareness Month. First declared in 2001, National Pain Awareness Month is an effort by the American Chronic Pain Association to raise awareness about the widespread and devastating effects [...]
Although CPAP is an effective treatment for sleep apnea, many people hate it. These people dislike the treatment so much that they would rather suffer the health consequences of sleep apnea--up to and including death--than use their CPAP. Clearly, these people need an alternative. Sleep Apnea Appliances Denver
For a person suffering from inner ear pain, the dentist is probably the last place they would expect to find treatment. In some cases, however, seeing a dentist about your ongoing inner ear pain could save you from months or even years of ear pain and costly antibiotics. If your family doctor or ear [...]
The coronavirus pandemic has had some dramatic effects on the way we live our lives. Perhaps none of these effects were more severe than the various isolation orders, such as the “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” orders issued by Governor Polis or Mayor Hancock. These orders changed the way people spent their time, making most of [...]
There are many different types of migraine triggers, and it's important for you to be aware of which ones are most likely to trigger yours. An important one to consider is smells. From 20-90% of migraine sufferers experience headaches caused by smells, and are sometimes said to be the second most common [...]
TMJ is a potentially disabling jaw condition. Although it may initially be relatively mild, if left untreated it can progress to result in serious pain or even complete immobility of the jaw. From some standpoints, it's actually no different from other joint problems, except in the eyes in insurance. To insurance, the temporomandibular [...]
We’ve said before that the exact mechanism by which TMJ triggers migraines is uncertain. However, the problem isn’t just linked to TMJ--many migraine causes are mysterious. Nor is it only causes that are mysterious--some treatments baffle us, too, in their mechanism. This includes the increasingly popular use of {{{{link id='3391' text='BOTOX® injections to treat [...]
If you are a snorer, you might be tempted to not take it too seriously. But if you don’t, you need to be prepared for potentially serious consequences. And here we’re not just talking about the risks related to sleep apnea. Although these are serious, they are not the only Dangers of Snoring Denver
Sleep is one important cornerstone of health. During sleep, our body performs vital tasks, including regulating our metabolism. When a condition like sleep apnea disrupts sleep, it can disrupt the body’s functions, either causing or worsening systemic health conditions, such as diabetes. According to a new study, sleep apnea is associated with higher blood sugar [...]
Have you ever wondered why eating ice cream or drinking a Slurpee gives you a headache? Or why shooting pain in your arm or jaw is a symptom of a heart attack? These are both examples of referred pain, when you feel pain in one part of your body (such as your mouth or [...]
Last week, we were reviewing some preliminary research about how yoga can help people with TMJ. However, now a new study shows that yoga is an effective adjunct to typical migraine treatment with medications. The study shows that, after three months, people who did yoga had more improvement in their [...]
For those who suffer from the constant pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder, finding a method to minimize the problem is usually a continuous search (until they find a neuromuscular dentist). Patients who suffer from a bad bite causing a problem within the TMJ often experience wide-ranging symptoms. This might include inconsistent [...]
If you have sleep apnea, you might be considering postponing getting treatment until later because of the coronavirus pandemic. While many people focus on some of the long-term risks of sleep apnea, such as increased dementia and cancer risk, it’s important to understand that not all of the consequences of sleep apnea [...]
The symptoms of sleep apnea aren’t ones that are unexpected with a condition that causes interrupted and inconsistent sleep. Problems such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, a lack of energy, and restlessness all seem to fit with a condition that negatively impacts our sleeping patterns. However, with more studies we realize the impact can [...]
One of the challenges that doctors face in talking about pain of the face and mouth, what we call orofacial pain, is that not everyone uses the same terms. We’re not just talking about how some people might call temporomandibular joint disorders TMJ while others use TMD. Instead, we’re talking about doctors [...]
When someone visits a masseuse for relief from muscle and/or joint pain, they are usually treated with a variety of oils. Sedative essential oils are used to relax the body and relieve stress, especially when combined with fragrances used in aromatherapy. Essential Oils Recommended for TMJ Some of the most widely-used essential oils for [...]
Recently, Married at First Sight star Mishel Karen caused a bit of a stir this week when she revealed her “extreme” beauty routine. Among the elements in her routine, she includes BOTOX ® Cosmetic injections, teeth whitening, and working out with a personal trainer. However, what most people found most surprising was her use [...]
This year has been a relatively heavy one for snow along the Front Range. It took a while to get started, but once the sky opened up, we’ve had fairly heavy snowfalls every couple weeks. And with the traditionally snowiest months of March and April still to come, it looks like your shoveling arms are [...]
Migraines are not just a very common condition, they are a condition that comes with many variations. Some of these variations are particularly disabling and/or hard to treat. One of these hard-to-treat subtypes is vestibular migraine. In this type of migraine, you experience dizziness along with your headache, which can make it even more
If you've gotten a cold, flu, or other upper respiratory tract infection this year, you may have experienced a short, intense period of coughing, or a long, lingering cough that sticks around for weeks after your cold is otherwise gone. In either case, it's not unusual for coughing to aggravate your TMJ Denver
TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorder, can be a nuisance 365.24 days a year, but it can be especially obnoxious during the holidays. Jaw pain, headaches, and other symptoms can make it hard for you to enjoy many of your favorite activities. Fortunately, TMJ treatment can often give immediate relief, so it can save your [...]
It's the holiday season, and that means pulling out all the family classic TV shows. Around my house one of the favorites is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and watching it this year, it occurred to me that the Grinch's real problem isn't his heart or his shoes, it's his teeth. TMJ may [...]
You might think that just because your doctor’s diagnosed CPAP, that’s how you have to treat your sleep apnea. If you don’t like the idea of CPAP, you should get a second opinion about sleep apnea treatment. So, you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea. This often leads to a number of conflicted feelings. Many people [...]
Having rounded the Thanksgiving corner and headed straight home for the holidays this year, most of us are looking forward to enjoying special times with friends and family. But some of us are also dreading the annual recurrence of headaches that accompany the season. Whether you call them Christmas migraines or Hanukkah headaches, [...]
Dog owners share a lot with our pets (sometimes whether we want to or not): our homes, our furniture, our food, etc. Although contagious diseases that can cross species are rare, there are some medical conditions common in dogs and people alike: arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea to name [...]
Sleep disorders are complex to diagnose and treat. It’s hard even to get a good sense that you have a sleep disorder, since your doctor might not ask about it (and might not even know much about it). And once you think you might know you have a problem, it’s easy to misdiagnose the specific [...]
It's a treasured home remedy for migraines: drink Gatorade when you feel a migraine coming on, and it'll go away. However, is it really true? Can Gatorade truly cure a migraine? Mechanisms for the Gatorade Cure It's quite possible that drinking Gatorade will help you get rid of many types of headaches, [...]
For many of us, coffee is part of our daily routine. While one cup of java in the morning might be the perfect pick-me-up, adding too many more caffeinated drinks over the course of the day could be increasing your risk of migraines. That’s according to a new study, which suggests that [...]
Your quest to get and remain fit is, generally, a good thing. But there is also a point at which it can cease being beneficial and become a danger to your health.Too much exercise can lead to injury. And that’s exactly what you might be facing if you decide to follow the exercise regimen recommended [...]
Last week the sleep medicine community was buzzing about a new $1.4 million grant for a sleep apnea program based at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. This new grant was focused on what seems to be an essential part of the sleep apnea treatment solution: trying to get people to use [...]
You might think that, because you routinely crack your knuckles and there's nothing wrong with it, you don't have to worry about popping in other joints, such as your jaw joint. First of all, there are potential problems with cracking your knuckles (such as risk of acute injury, decreased hand strength, and swollen joints). And [...]
People often don’t notice temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) until it becomes an acute problem. Acute TMJ flare-ups are associated with locked jaw, extreme pain in the jaw joints and/or muscles, headaches, ringing in the ears, and more symptoms. When this happens, you might be given treatments to alleviate the current state, such [...]
We’ve talked before about how there are many potential sources of snoring, such as your nose, your mouth, or your throat. Figuring out which is the source of your snoring is critical to ensuring you get relief from your snoring. But how can you identify the source of your [...]
People who suffer with migraines face a number of critical challenges. It’s hard for them to maintain a good work schedule, and just as hard to get relaxation by spending time with friends and family. Seeing their challenges can make you want to help, but what can you do [...]
We know that people with chronic health problems often experience depression or anxiety associated with their condition, but the link with sleep apnea is stronger than usual. Mood disorders are common in people with sleep apnea, and depression is so commonly linked that it often masks the underlying problem [...]
There’s an old wives’ tale that says when you hear a sharp ringing in your ears, that means someone is talking about you. Depending on who you hear it from, they might even add that ringing in the left ear means the talking is good while ringing in the right means the opposite. The belief [...]
Sleep is critical to our body’s overall health and proper function. So it makes sense that a condition like sleep apnea, which disrupts sleep, would have far-ranging effects on our health. That’s why it’s not a surprise that new research has reaffirmed the potential link between sleep apnea and cancer. Although this [...]
We know that migraines are among the conditions that tend to be associated with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). We also know that teens frequently develop TMJ. So it seems likely that migraine and TMJ would be associated with one another in teens. The association between these [...]
We know that sleep apnea is harmful. In fact, we keep finding new ways that it is harmful to us every day. One of the big questions that remains unanswered is how well sleep apnea treatment can help prevent these harms. There are many obstacles to showing this, and, [...]
Many people experience TMJ symptoms, but tend to get them on just one side. They often ask us if it’s possible to develop temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) on one side. The answer is: yes, but it’s usually not just that side that’s affected. As the condition progresses, new symptoms will likely show [...]
For pregnant women, controlling blood sugar is an important way to stay healthy. Women with higher blood sugar during pregnancy are more likely to develop diabetes, and their babies are more likely to be obese. Unfortunately, a new study shows that sleep apnea during pregnancy can lead to higher blood sugar all [...]
If you wake up with a sore jaw in the morning, there might be a simple solution, or it might be a sign of serious, even deadly health problems. How can you tell? The best way is to see a TMJ dentist who can eliminate some of the more serious causes. But [...]
No matter what anyone tells you, age is not just a number. Sure, we may have our chronological age, which is just a simple number, but in truth we all also have a biological age, which is much more than a number. Instead, it’s a complex manifestation of how our body is aging. Some factors [...]
There’s no time like the winter time! Beautiful white snowscapes, steaming hot chocolate, glistening icicles along the eaves of the house, and increased jaw pain — wait, what? Despite the things that make winter great, the cold weather can also come with heightened TMJ symptoms for many people. Though some people think pain fluctuation based [...]
Because CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) has long been considered the “gold standard” for sleep apnea treatment, it’s commonly prescribed as a frontline treatment. However, many people find that they can’t adapt to CPAP. This puts many people in the situation where they have to learn to transition from [...]
People with temporomandibular joint disorder (often called TMJ or TMD), can have a hard time getting a true diagnosis of their condition. Misdiagnosis is common. This can prevent people from getting successful treatment. There are many reasons why it’s hard to get an accurate diagnosis. Part of it is [...]
Nighttime urination, called nocturia, is one of the most annoying (and common) symptoms of aging. It makes it harder for you to get sleep you need, and it can be very uncomfortable, too. If you are experiencing this, you might first think that it’s linked to prostate problems like bph (benign prostatic hyperplasia), [...]
Arthritis is a condition that only affects old people, right? Wrong. Although it’s true that most people experience arthritis as part of aging, it’s also true that a significant number of people develop arthritis when they are quite young, perhaps even children. And when people develop arthritis, the temporomandibular joints (jaw joints) are often affected. [...]
According to a new study, women might be at a higher risk for heart problems related to snoring and sleep apnea. They may also start to develop symptoms at a younger age. Researchers in the study also found that sleep apnea is probably greatly underdiagnosed among snorers. Women at [...]
In an attempt to help counter the ongoing crisis of opioid overdose in the US, the FDA has announced that devices for controlling pain can get through the approval process faster. This may mean that in the near future, we may have access to more drug-free treatments for migraines. But there’s even [...]
If you are looking for a sleep dentist to help you treat your sleep apnea without CPAP, take the time to consider your options carefully. Your sleep dentist will make a tremendous difference in the quality of your results and in the quality of your experience. One important thing [...]
One of the biggest challenges of getting successful treatment for your TMJ is getting a successful diagnosis. TMJ symptoms often overlap with other conditions, and since many doctors don’t know much about TMJ, they are more likely to put a label on the symptoms that they feel more comfortable with. Since these [...]
If you have sleep apnea, you might be considering your treatment options. The two most effective treatments are CPAP and oral appliance therapy. It’s important to make sure that you choose a treatment that will be effective for you. If you’re unlikely to comply with CPAP, [...]
You’ve discovered that you’re a night bruxer. In other words, you clench and grind your teeth at night while you sleep. Your regular dentist is offering to give you a night guard to protect your teeth from future damage. It seems like a good idea to take it, but before you do, there are some [...]
Sleep dentists are trained to help treat sleep apnea with the use of oral appliances. There are many dentists who will advertise their services as sleep dentists after just a short, focused training on oral appliances. However, if you are looking for a sleep dentist who is likely to give you the [...]
Trigger point injection (TPI) is a great treatment for chronic pain. It’s a very effective approach to treat both direct and referred pain. It’s a noninvasive treatment that can provide long-lasting relief for headaches and many other types of chronic pain. The risk of complications is very low, and [...]
As America’s population is getting older, we see an increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This condition can lead to dramatically shortened lives for sufferers, and even in its early stages, dementia can rob sufferers of their quality of life. It also dramatically impacts the family of sufferers, who have to watch a loved [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) are best treated early, before they result in destruction of the joint’s critical cushioning disc. Once that disc is destroyed, we currently have no alternative but surgery to replace the joint with an artificial replacement. Unfortunately, these replacement joints have very high complication rates and often don’t work [...]
Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly condition, but, with treatment, risks may be reduced. However, before treatment can start, we have to detect people with the condition. That’s where having additional screening techniques can be helpful. The more ways we can detect sleep apnea, the more likely we are to find it [...]
A recent article in US News & World Report looked at one woman’s struggle to get treatment for her temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). It’s not a heartening story, because her symptoms persist, despite years of trying to get treatment for her condition. This can make people wonder: why don’t we have a [...]
The approval of recreational marijuana in Colorado took some of the shine off the medical marijuana (MMJ) trade, but people still seek MMJ for a wide range of illnesses, such as nausea, headaches, chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. But is it good for sleep apnea? The Minnesota Department of Health apparently thought [...]
People with chronic headaches suffer disability at work. Because of their recurring pain and related emotional strain, they often have to take time off from work. But the amount of disability people experience isn’t consistent. It varies from individual to individual, and, as a new study shows, workplace to workplace. This new [...]
If you keep up with the news lately, you will see how we are facing a severe opioid epidemic, with overdoses happening more often to a wider cross section of our society. The “Prescribed to Death” Memorial has been put in place in DC, calling attention to the dramatic toll these drugs are taking on [...]
Sleep apnea has become one of the leading categories of disability handled by the Veterans Administration (VA). It’s even been shown that sleep apnea is causing these veterans to lose brain matter. But there are many challenges for trying to get help for veterans’ sleep apnea. Many of these veterans have PTSD [...]
One of the big problems we have in the US is our reliance on medications to treat all medical conditions. The biggest sign of this problem is, of course, our deadly opium crisis, which resulted from patients and doctors turning to opioids too often for chronic pain conditions. But a more common sign [...]
There’s no doubt that medicine has changed dramatically in recent years. In some ways, it has improved considerably, with medical imaging technology giving us great insight into medical conditions. It has helped the diagnosis of TMJ considerably in our office. But at the same time, there have arguably been some declines in [...]
One of the potentially deadly impacts of sleep apnea is that it can increase your risk of a serious car accident. In fact, it can increase your car accident risk five times. Sleep apnea is partly dangerous because most people who have it don’t know they have it. But it does leave [...]
We are learning that sleep apnea is a major risk during pregnancy. It can harm both the mother and child. It’s vitally important that we identify which women are at risk for sleep apnea during pregnancy? That’s the focus of a new study from the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver [...]
The nation has finally seen fit to declare a national emergency over the use of prescription opioid pain relievers. However, there are other classes of medication that are also very deadly, are also being abused, and may also need to be better controlled. These are over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. Although most of us think it’s [...]
Sleep apnea has been linked to an elevated risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. And it’s been shown to make it more likely that you develop dementia at an early age. But there are still some gaps in our knowledge. Most importantly, we don’t yet know whether treating sleep [...]
Is losing weight one of your New Year’s resolutions? Are you starting to flag on it? Well, if so, consider this incentive: patients who lost weight were able to see their pain reduce in many joints throughout the body, not just the joints that have to bear the weight. This means not only that weight [...]
Medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the US, according to recent estimates. Although it’s hard to say for sure, it’s likely that one of the most serious--and easily preventable--medical errors is a failure to treat sleep apnea among hospital patients. Now a new large study shows just [...]
Migraine surgery remains a controversial procedure to treat migraines. Although advocates push its potential benefits, the studies demonstrating these benefits have been questioned, and the cost, side effects, and other drawbacks have been shown to be significant. Now a new study is demonstrating the potential functional benefits of migraine surgery, lending additional [...]
Welcome to 2018. Now that 2017 is behind us, it’s a great time to look back at the year that was and consider its impacts. Enter all the year-end retrospectives, some of which are more interesting than others (top 10 retractions, anyone? Anyone?) One of the more interesting lists that came out at the end [...]
Tinnitus is a disruptive, even disabling symptom, although it’s often hard to track down what it’s a symptom of. People with tinnitus may have difficulty working, and they can experience a significant mental health burden, which may include depression and even suicide attempts. One of the most serious obstacles for tinnitus sufferers [...]
For years, CPAP has been considered the gold standard of treatment for sleep apnea. It’s essentially 100% effective: people using CPAP properly don’t have apneic episodes. However, there have also been doubts about whether this theoretical effectiveness translated to the best results for patients. Now we know that oral [...]
Migraine sufferers have long struggled to find successful migraine treatments. And when they do, these treatments come with numerous potential side effects. Few migraine sufferers have found a treatment that they are happy with. But that may soon change, with the development of new migraine drugs that target a key link in the causal mechanism [...]
A woman’s risk of sleep apnea can vary widely over her lifetime. She is at the highest risk for the condition when she is pregnant and after menopause. In the past, it seemed that weight gain played the most significant role in increasing risk at these times, but a [...]
It’s probably the last thing you want to hear when you’re fighting through the pain and nausea of your migraine: it’s good for you. But that’s exactly what one researcher is proposing, that migraines might actually be a protective mechanism for the brain, and that utilizing the techniques of migraines--although hopefully without the pain--could revolutionize [...]
Getting enough sleep is critical to ensuring the health of your body, especially your heart. Many people don’t understand this, however, until they end up in the hospital after a heart attack or other major coronary event (MCE). By that time, the situation is critical, and sleep problems like sleep apnea have to be treated. [...]
Headaches and migraines are complex conditions with many potential causes. In order to be able to treat them properly, we have to be prepared to offer many different treatments that can target these causes and provide relief. One treatment we offer for these and other painful conditions is trigger point injections. This safe, [...]
It’s impossible to understand just how damaging sleep apnea can be if you haven’t been there. And, unfortunately, for many people who are there, the cause of their problems isn’t at all obvious. That was the case for current starting center Ryan Jensen, who didn’t realize that sleep apnea was causing him [...]
Did you know that over 10 million Americans are estimated to have TMJ? Despite how common the disorder is, researchers are still struggling to pinpoint its cause. Studies have identified connections to chewing gum and oral piercings, and some statistics even suggest millennials may be suffering from the disorder [...]
If you wake up your partner with loud snoring throughout the night, it may be more than just an annoyance — it could be a red flag. Sleep apnea has many symptoms, including daytime fatigue and morning headaches, but snoring is the hardest symptom to miss. If you do have sleep apnea, [...]
After sleep apnea diagnosis, the first line of treatment is usually a machine called CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This machine forces air through a facial mask to keep your airway from collapsing, preventing sleep apnea episodes. Unfortunately, despite its effectiveness as a treatment, CPAP only works if patients [...]
Living with temporomandibular joint disorder, more commonly known as TMJ, means lots of things. It means monitoring everything from your diet to your pain triggers to keep your jaw working as normally as possible. It means working with professionals for treatment and putting together a self-management plan
If you’ve been doing your research on sleep apnea, you know that this sleep disorder is accompanied by some potentially deadly risks, ranging from blindness to stroke to kidney disease. To avoid those risks, it’s essential to seek treatment for sleep apnea. But new research shows that simply going through the motions [...]
If you suffer from TMJ disorder, you are probably already getting treatment from a dentist to reduce pain and prevent further damage to your joints. Treatments from medical professionals are imperative, since untreated TMJ generally worsens over time. But medical professionals aren’t the only ones who can help reduce the pain caused [...]
You’re probably aware of the dangers of high blood pressure, also called hypertension. The long term pressure of your blood against your artery walls can eventually lead to health problems if untreated. But are you aware that those same risks accompany sleep apnea? The Dangers of Hypertension Although the heart problems associated with hypertension are [...]
You may know that sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the sufferer to stop breathing periodically while asleep. You may know that aside from unpleasant symptoms like snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty focusing, it also comes hand-in-hand with life-threatening risks like stroke and heart failure. But you [...]
If you’ve been diagnosed with TMJ or you suffer from TMJ symptoms, you may not think to link those troubles to your sleep. This common joint disorder is characterized by a misaligned bite, resulting in tension and stress on the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull. That tension can [...]
Pregnancy often comes with anticipation, celebration, excitement, and nerves. But if you have obstructive sleep apnea, pregnancy could come with more than just a healthy glow and some morning sickness: It could come with complications. To make matters worse, even if a woman doesn’t suffer from sleep apnea normally, her pregnancy can [...]
If you’ve heard about millennials in the news lately, it’s probably because someone is claiming that they’re killing something. From department stores to golf, millennials have even been pinned with the cold-blooded murder of lunch. But while millennials aren’t spending their spare time destroying important American industries like napkins, they’re experiencing unprecedented levels of mental [...]
Have you been snoring, experiencing daytime fatigue and focus problems, or even just waking with the feeling that you didn’t sleep well? These could be signs of a sleep disorder. If you’ve been experiencing sleep-related symptoms, it may be time to have a sleep study done. Your doctor can refer you to [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder is a complex and painful condition that above all requires treatment by experienced medical professionals like TMJ dentist Dr. Kevin Berry. But not all TMJ treatment takes place at the dentist’s office — some of it has to take place at home. An [...]
Far from a simple snoring problem, sleep apnea has been proven again and again to be incredibly dangerous. This sleep breathing disorder doesn’t just impact daily quality of life, but increases your risk of premature death by three times. Untreated sleep apnea puts you at heightened risk of high [...]
When it comes to the most complicated systems in the body, the inner ear is towards the top of the list. This complex, fragile system is instrumental not just in detecting sound, but also in your sense of balance and spatial orientation. And when something is “off” about your inner ear, it can be very [...]
Even though the average person may still view sleep apnea as little more than an embarrassing or disruptive snoring problem, studies have repeatedly shown that the widespread sleeping disorder is responsible for a host of deadly side effects. Stroke, heart disease, kidney damage, and more are all provably connected [...]
Some estimates suggest that over ten million Americans are affected by TMJ. Could you be one of them? TMJ can be difficult to diagnose, particularly since many of the symptoms, such as a persistent ringing in the ears or tingling in the fingers, don’t seem related to the jaw at all. But [...]
Some estimates suggest that more than 10 million Americans suffer from TMJ, a disorder in which the jaw joint is misaligned, creating tension and pain. And it’s no wonder that the disorder is so common — a new study shows that habits as seemingly harmless as chewing gum can put undue pressure [...]
It’s a common misconception that sleep apnea is nothing more than a snoring problem. But in reality, sleep apnea is a dangerous, potentially even deadly disorder that impacts everything from your daily routines to your life expectancy. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the sleeper’s airway to become obstructed, stopping [...]
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans — some research suggests as many as one in ten. People with sleep apnea may stop breathing hundreds of times per night. Of course, it’s hard to recognize your symptoms when you’re sleeping through many of them: Most people with the disorder go [...]
There are plenty of routine screenings that are accepted as a normal part of our lives and medical experiences. When women reach their forties, doctors start recommending that they get regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer. Once you hit fifty, you enter colonoscopy territory. Tests like these become standard because they can help expose [...]
For people suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly referred to as TMJ, there are a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Jaw pain is a common indicator of the disorder, as is the tendency to clench or grind teeth. Some people experience popping or clicking sounds when they open [...]
Last week, a commuter train derailed at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal, injuring more than a hundred people. The cause of the crash hasn’t yet been confirmed, but it didn’t take long for investigators to draw comparisons to a similar crash in Hoboken last September. The cause of that crash was sleep apnea. The train [...]
Every case of TMJ is different, and because of that, every treatment must also be different. One common treatment is a bite splint, which is popular because it’s a quick-working solution that isn’t permanent, providing flexibility of treatment. While a bite splint isn’t the right treatment for everyone, it’s a good start for [...]
A number of current and former Denver Broncos players, as well as other NFL greats, will ring in the new year with an event to raise awareness about sleep apnea and its related health risks. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet NFL players, learn about sleep apnea, win prizes, and bid [...]
Sleep apnea was recently revealed as a factor in two deadly railroad accidents, and this life-threatening sleep disorder is the driving force behind an effort to require train operators and commercial truck drivers to undergo additional screening to improve rail safety. Sleep Apnea and Driving Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common [...]
Most people know BOTOX® Cosmetic as a treatment for facial wrinkles and fine lines. But for some people, BOTOX® may also relieve the chronic jaw pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). TMJ causes vary widely, and BOTOX® isn’t effective for everyone. In some cases, an oral appliance known as a bite splint [...]
As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) moves closer to mandating sleep apnea testing for commercial truck drivers and railroad operators, some transportation companies are taking steps to prepare workers for diagnosis and treatment. One of the most challenging steps in treating sleep apnea is often the prescribed treatment itself: CPAP. [...]
Depression is an oft-overlooked side-effect of sleep apnea, and it can be especially dangerous to one of sleep apnea’s most oft-overlooked demographics: children. Sleep Apnea and Children Upward of 3 percent of children are believed to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a recent Fox News report that examines the [...]
Stem cells that facilitate the growth of new cartilage and rejuvenate damaged joints have been identified in a joint that is prone to premature wear and causes discomfort in millions of Americans: the temporomandibular joint. Temporomandibular joints are integral in connecting the jaw and the skull, and there is one on each side of the [...]
A limited attention span, impaired decision-making skills and daytime fatigue are among the common side-effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Treatment is supposed to eliminate these and other effects of sleep apnea. However, a new study indicates those complications may persist even if an individual is treated with continuous positive airway pressure [...]
Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak was sidelined for last Thursday’s loss against the Chargers with what the team deemed a “complex migraine condition.” “Complex migraine” is a general term, and it can refer to a severe migraine, a migraine accompanied by visual aura, or lingering migraine complications. The precise cause of Kubiak’s migraine has [...]
Temporomandibular joints are among the physical characteristics that differentiate mammals from other vertebrates. These joints—one on each side of the jaw—help connect the mandible to the skull and provide the range of motion necessary for biting, chewing and (in humans) speaking. The joints also lend their name to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), [...]
NBA All-Star Stephen Curry has become something of an inadvertent ambassador for mouthguards, which help protect pro and amateur athletes alike from injuries to the jaw and mouth. Curry draws significant attention on the court, and his mouthguards are similarly high-profile; Curry is known for chewing his mouthguards during game breaks and [...]
A recent study illustrated with three-dimensional life what related research has indicated primarily with boring numbers: Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impairs driving and increases the risk of traffic accidents. Though its findings aren’t surprising, this new look at OSA and driving arrives amid a broader discussion of sleep apnea’s dangers and [...]
Arthritis is sometimes a factor in the jaw pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a common condition that can also lead to migraine-like headaches, soreness in the neck and shoulders, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Current and forthcoming research aims to provide a better understanding of the relationship between certain types of [...]
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has long been the most widely prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a life-threatening disorder that causes sufferers to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. OSA is thought to affect more than 25 million Americans, and it is accompanied by an increased risk for heart disease, heart [...]
Oral appliances are widely used to treat disruptive snoring and mild to moderate forms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common and life-threatening sleep disorder. As the use of these appliances, which are sometimes referred to as mandibular advancement devices, has grown in recent years so has concern about potential effects on [...]
Obesity is a risk factor for sleep apnea, although not everyone who suffers from sleep apnea is overweight. Similarly, exercise and weight loss can reduce the risk for sleep apnea and—in conjunction with treatment—limit sleep apnea’s effects, although many who suffer from sleep apnea are within their ideal weight ranges and are [...]
Modern medical research is moving away from the use of animals where possible as new testing technology and methods become available, and as more people question the ethics and effectiveness of animal testing. As we strive for better approaches to research and experimentation, we should not overlook animals’ contributions to the development of medications and [...]
Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, and for loved ones in the presence of a snorer the term “snoring threshold” has a figurative meaning as well as a medical one. A literal snoring threshold that gauges snoring instances could prove valuable in assessing sleep disorders. A recent study suggests home-based screening of this [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a fascinating condition for medical professionals, including researchers, because it impacts millions of people and it is connected to many potential underlying causes. The headaches, jaw pain and other discomfort associated with TMJ are often byproducts of a bite condition or a misaligned jaw, but TMJ disorders [...]
Many people dismiss consistent feelings of daytime fatigue and drowsiness while driving. Yet these two symptoms can be indicators of serious medical problems, including sleep apnea, and increasing attention is being focused on the dangers they pose to others. The Deadly Effects of Drowsy Driving Harvard University recently hosted a forum titled [...]
For most people with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), the condition can be managed without lasting impacts. Without treatment, however, TMJ may lead to chronic jaw pain, recurring headaches and other adverse effects. TMJ Causes and Effects The effects of TMJ, and how long they linger, depend largely on the source [...]
Moderate, regular exercise has health benefits too numerous to list, among them — according to recent research — is that it may help prevent or reduce the adverse effects associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Exercise and Sleep Apnea OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea, and [...]
Those afflicted by the chronically uncomfortable condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) endure multiple symptoms, some of which — including headaches, jaw pain and difficulty chewing — provide a direct link to TMJ in the presence of one another. Other indicators, such as tinnitus, can prove more elusive but no less [...]
Previous research has linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of heart problems including high blood pressure, heart attack and heart disease. The results of a new study indicate that the connection may run deeper, and that sleep apnea might actually worsen existing heart disease. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease Obstructive [...]
In last week’s blog post, we discussed some of the shared connections between people and dogs in regards to sleep apnea. But we also have a lot in common with dogs when it comes to the temporomandibular joints, the joints that connect the jaw to the skull and play a key role [...]
A horse is a horse, of course, but scientific research into the anatomy and medical conditions of animals like horses can also help us better understand our own bodies and health ailments. One such area of focus is the temporomandibular joint and its role in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Temporomandibular joints connect [...]
Potential federal sleep apnea testing regulations for truck drivers, railroad operators and bus drivers have stirred substantial debate since they were proposed just over a month ago, but one fact is often overlooked amid public comment and commercial-transport industry discussions: When it comes to treating sleep apnea, CPAP is not the only [...]
Approximately 3 million Americans are thought to suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic, widespread, musculoskeletal pain. Many with fibromyalgia also experience temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which causes recurring headaches, jaw pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Over the past decade, substantial research has focused on the relationship between [...]
Snoring excepted, many people with sleep apnea suffer in silence. But snoring alone is not always a symptom of sleep apnea, and if only people realized the impact sleep apnea on their lives, they would be more likely to speak up to their doctor. Following are five common, but [...]
Scientists have long known that the crocodilian species — which includes various types of crocodiles, alligators and caimans — have the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. What was not entirely understood was just how these aquatic reptiles are able to generate such extreme force. But the recent discovery of a second jaw joint in [...]
This week marks the opening of the 2016 baseball season, and while the Denver-based Colorado Rockies again seem faced with big questions, one Major League All-Star in the offseason found the answer to sleep apnea, a common and potentially life-threatening disorder. Fielder Fields Sleep Apnea Early in spring training, six-time All-Star Prince [...]
Because temporomandibular joint disorder is characterized by a number of symptoms that are common in other medical problems or health ailments, many patients suffer through multiple attempts at diagnosis before arriving at a neuromuscular dentist with experience in correctly assessing and successfully treating TMJ disorder. But as a recent Washington Post article [...]
Truck drivers, bus operators, and railroad workers could join pilots in being mandated to test for sleep apnea under a proposed federal rule backed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Tens of millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing [...]
A quality pillow is an important component of a good night’s sleep, but there is no medical evidence indicating it can treat physical ailments like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a fact the consumer watchdog nonprofit Truth in Advertising noted last month in regards to claims made by a popular pillow manufacturer. MyPillow [...]
Although the painful condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (also referred to as TMJ or TMD) is a dental-centric problem, its uncomfortable symptoms are felt throughout the body, from recurring headaches to back pain to tingling in the hands and fingers. Because the symptoms of TMJ disorder can be vague, and many indicators [...]
Sleep apnea, a common condition in which a person’s breathing stops multiple times during the night, wreaks havoc on sleep patterns and leads to daytime drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and other adverse symptoms. It also contributes to a heightened risk of serious health problems including hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Yet until recently, [...]
Iggy Azalea has recently proclaimed on Twitter that her singing lessons have done more than just help her prepare for future albums. Believe it or not, she claims her singing lessons have actually helped her with her TMJ as well. At the beginning of 2015, the Aussie singer shared news of her TMJ [...]
If you have sleep apnea, the odds are good that your doctor prescribed you with CPAP (after all, we know they’re not good at offering alternatives). But while the CPAP can be very effective, it has a number of drawbacks, which can make people opt not to use the Sleep Apnea Treatment in Denver
People with TMJ may become frustrated with conventional treatments and may consider many alternative treatments. One that some people are advocating for is extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), but there’s no proof that this therapy can actually help treat your TMJ. How ESWT Works ESWT creates shockwaves by using an impactor that [...]
When it comes to treating sleep apnea, CPAP is a paradox. On the one hand, it’s the best treatment available. It’s almost 100% successful when used properly. But on the other hand, it’s the worst treatment possible. Many people who are prescribed CPAP find that they can’t deal with the side effects, such [...]
Recently, CNN posted a video featuring TMJ on their website. It is great that this condition is getting national attention because many people have TMJ disorder and do not realize it. With that being said, there are a few key aspects of the disorder that I believe were not properly touched on in [...]
Despite being the gold standard for the potentially life threatening condition, sleep apnea many people have issues using their CPAP machines. Many find the machines too cumbersome, or have issues with the mask not fitting quite right. Those suffering from PTSD find the CPAP machine especially difficult to [...]
Unless you have been living under a rock you know that marijuana is now legal for medical and recreational use in four states. One of those four being our very own Colorado. A staggering 23 states and Washington, DC have legalized medical marijuana. Clearly there is something about marijuana that makes it useful as medication, [...]
Having a little bit of morning breath is normal and may not be a cause for alarm, but if you’ve noticed that your morning breath has gotten worse, or if it’s gotten more common and you can’t improve it, then you might want to consider it might be related to sleep apnea. Linking [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is not only a very painful condition affecting the jaw, but can also put a huge strain on your day to day life. There are a number of things that you can do to protect your temporomandibular joint, but what can you do if you already have TMJ? X. [...]
Sleep apnea has been linked to a number of adverse health effects such as stroke and even depression. Typically a CPAP machine or dental appliance in conjunction with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise are used to treat sleep apnea. Despite the proven effectiveness in treating sleep apnea, [...]
Migraines have proven to be extremely tricky to treat with recent studies indicating that those suffering from migraines are increasingly dissatisfied with their treatment plan. Many doctors today are relying on drugs that can have strong negative side effects (such as opioids). As if the side effects were not bad enough, [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can be a major source of pain and discomfort for those suffering from the disorder. TMJ has been linked to migraines, facial pain, as well as neck and shoulder pain due to the interconnectivity of the nerves running along the temporomandibular joint and the cooperative action of [...]
Sleep apnea can cause a huge strain on your life. It leads to a wide range of health issues, such as difficulties with cognition, and an increased risk of heart failure, heart disease, and stroke if left untreated. As if all of those conditions were not bad [...]
We have all been there. As you wake up the next morning from a night out, you reach over and shut off the alarm that's ringing sounds like a million bombs going off in your ears. Last night was fun, probably a little too fun, and now you are hungover and are faced with the [...]
It is normal for people to go through their days a little groggy, but for many it is hard to simply rate their level of sleepiness. Would you rate it on a one to ten scale? What different variables go into the equation? Luckily there is a way for sleep specialists to quantify sleepiness into [...]
We recently discussed how CPAP is proving to be a difficult method of treatment for sleep apnea for those with PTSD, and truck drivers have been also finding issues with CPAP. The federal government has been increasing screenings for sleep apnea among truckers. While this is not necessary a bad idea, [...]
Denver Treatment For Parkinson’s Symptoms is a neurological disease that affects motor skills. Usually those diagnosed with Parkinson's experience debilitating tremors as well as stiff muscles. Many people also rely heavily on expensive medication that only mask some of the symptoms. While there is not a cure for Parkinson's as of yet, there is treatment that [...]
Most migraine sufferers have tried many different treatments, often with little or no success, until they stumble on something that works. That was the case for a British woman, who recently found that her ear piercing relieved her migraines. And she’s not the only one to get these results. Could this [...]
We know that sleep apnea has a long-term impact on cognition. It can lead to dementia. But it’s been harder to measure the impact of sleep apnea on your cognitive acuity daily. Now, though, researchers have shown that they can measure cognitive changes related to sleep apnea on a daily basis. Not only [...]
Many people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it. They also don’t realize that it’s behind many of the serious health problems they’ve been experiencing. Worse, when people have sleep apnea, it creates a cycle of poor health that can cause rapid declines in health and make it hard to get better. Fortunately,
We’re not sure how big a trend it’s becoming, but among the millions of people who get BOTOX ® Cosmetic injections every year, there seems to be a growing number of women who are seeking it out not just to erase the lines left by worry, anger, and crying from a relationship, but the bad [...]
Sleep apnea can be hard to deal with, and often the treatment doesn’t really seem a solution so much as another set of problems. The most commonly prescribed form of treatment, CPAP, can be enough to drive anyone crazy, though it works well for people who adjust to it properly. But for veterans suffering from [...]
Before the invention of the printing press, all books had to be copied by hand. This made the production of books a labor-intensive process, and each book could take a year or more to copy. The books produced by these scribes remind us that they were being produced by the hands of individuals, and not [...]
When football helmets were introduced, they immediately accomplished their primary goal: they all but eliminated open-head injuries from the sport. Since then, they have been considerably updated, but new research suggests that they may be inadequate to protect against the primary head injury of concern in the NFL and amateurs alike: concussions. Concussions are a [...]
When considering home care for TMJ, it’s important to determine whether you need professional care. Not all treatments are a good idea, even if they are natural or free of cost. However, if you’ve determined that your case of TMJ syndrome might benefit from home treatment under the watchful eye [...]
People who check into the hospital with undiagnosed sleep apnea are at very serious risk. Sleep apnea increases the risk of serious complications from anesthesia, can slow healing and recovery, and can even reduce the effectiveness of treatments for heart failure. Doctors need to know when their patients have sleep apnea [...]
To get the best results from TMJ treatment, it’s advised that you start with the most minimally invasive treatments before moving on to more invasive and irreversible treatments. So starting with home care is a good idea most of the time. But before you try a home care routine, it’s important [...]
A new organization launched this month with the goal of conducting research and educating people with TMJ disorders and facial palsy. The Foundation for Facial Recovery aims to be a resource for healthcare providers so that they can properly diagnose facial palsy and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). According to the Foundation’s news release [...]
Recent research shows that sleep apnea doubles the risk of workplace injury, making it more dangerous than other sleep problems. With this increased risk, it’s important for workers who are at risk of harming themselves and others to get sleep apnea treatment. Linking Accidents and Apnea Researchers in this study started by recruiting [...]
Chronic pain is one of the most common and disabling conditions in America, with 100 million Americans—and nearly half of all women—suffering. And many of our treatments don’t work well enough, but new research might change that. The existing model for pain management says hormones like estrogen alter a common pain circuit present in both [...]
Many people have difficulty understanding how a jaw disorder like TMJ can be linked to severe headaches and especially migraines. After all, migraines are caused inside the head, and are linked to a wide range of triggers that don't seem to have any relationship to the jaw. But there is an [...]
Sleep apnea is one of the most undiagnosed disorders worldwide. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that nearly 18 million people in the United States suffer from this condition, and about half of all cases go undiagnosed. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can cause serious health problems such as obesity, heart disease, Research May Explain Link between Obesity, Diabetes and Sleep
While your conscious brain focuses on one task, you often perform unconscious habits. You might form good habits, such as glancing at your rearview mirror before changing lanes. You might also form bad ones, such as chewing on your nails while working on projects. Some harmful habits can cause or exacerbate a painful jaw condition [...]
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 15 million Americans (about 16%) work full time or part time jobs with fluctuating schedules known as shift work. Although these jobs can be just as prestigious as any Nine-to-Five occupation, this kind of job wears hard on your body. Recent studies show that these jobs can [...]
Choosing to consciously change certain habits can help you manage your sleep apnea and rest more deeply at night. One way to improve your sleep is by working anti-inflammatory foods into your diet. Throughout the day, you can encounter foods, air quality, stress, and other factors that can increase inflammation in your throat [...]
Symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), commonly caused by a painful misalignment of the jaw, affect your overall well-being. These symptoms can detract from your ability to focus, make you feel isolated, and cause you to withdraw from your community. Unfortunately, this can impact your success in the work place. Recent survey [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can cause recurring tension headaches and migraines. Muscle tension from your misaligned jaw puts pressure on nerves and causes debilitating headaches. Studies have shown that recurring migraines can cause feelings of social isolation. A little advanced planning combined with seeking support from other people can help you [...]
Athletes travel frequently for events all over the nation, and sometimes, the world. Whether you play football, complete triathlons, or bike marathons, you go where your sport takes you. Sometimes, this means sudden gains in altitude. Altitude gain can throw off your game by leaving you struggling to breath thinner air, but that’s not the [...]
Treating spasmodic torticollis (also called cervical dystonia) and other movement disorders takes time and patience. Sometimes, you need to visit several different types of medical professionals before you find the treatment that works best for you. In many cases, the key to successful torticollis treatment is perseverance. Spotting the Symptoms Early The cause [...]
Playing musical instruments offers many benefits. For one thing, it is a known stress reliever. Additionally, it may increase your memory capacity, make you better at math, and even give you better focusing skills. A recent study conducted in India may have found yet another reason why you should learn to play an instrument. The [...]
Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is largely under diagnosed among women. Part of the cause of this under diagnosis is cultural perceptions of the relationship between snoring, sleep problems, and gender. Both snoring and sleep apnea are often portrayed as conditions that largely affect middle-aged men. With [...]
Traveling can be stressful. Whether you are traveling for work or pleasure, there are many steps involved in making sure that your trip goes smoothly. No matter how well you plan, there are often variables that you may not anticipate. One is the sanitation of the hotel rooms you inhabit along the way. In any [...]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can make seemingly simple tasks like eating, yawning, and speaking painful and unpleasant. Jaw pain, although not usually a life-threatening condition, disrupts your life in big ways. For Erie high school senior Elena Stotts, jaw pain even keeps her from attending more than a handful of classes per week. [...]
One of the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is tinnitus. TMJ can cause tinnitus because the three small bones that make up your inner ear are housed behind your jaw joint. Tension and pressure created by TMJ can cause muscle spasms that create ringing and buzzing in your [...]
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans, and many people don’t even realize they have it. People suffering from sleep apnea experience multiple sleep disruptions at night when they stop breathing. Although sleep apnea itself is nonfatal, it has been linked to increasing the risk of other conditions such [...]
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating degenerative condition characterized by a range of symptoms. This disease is caused by the immune system attacking the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord nerves) as though they were foreign pathogens. The immune system’s attack causes inflammation in the nerves, which often leads to numbness in parts of [...]
Dental technology is always evolving, seeking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of dental practice. It is important for dentists to continue to evaluate and bring new technologies into their practices as they become available. Dentists should do this whenever a technology offers true benefits for patients. One technology that we think will be very helpful [...]
Sleep apnea and acid reflux (GERD) are both conditions that affect a large number of people in the United States. GERD is estimated to affect 7 million people in the U.S., and sleep apnea is thought to affect as many as 18 million. Although the two disrupt your body in very different ways, [...]
TMJ can negatively influence a career, or even make it hard to get a job in the first place. When people are in pain, even seemingly simple tasks can seem like a mountain to accomplish. Pain costs an estimated $294 billion annually in lost workdays, medical costs, and other benefit costs. Having constant [...]
Constant sleep disruption is just one of many known factors that can lead to depression. The list of other known contributors is lengthy, and includes physical health, social isolation, age, and habits. A recent Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found that it may also depend on what generation you are part of. In the index [...]
In 2008, the impact of sleep apnea (specifically, obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA) on pilots attracted heightened public attention when a commercial flight missed its destination. The commuter jet, carrying 40 passengers between islands in Hawaii, flew 26 miles past its destination. Air-traffic controllers lost contact with the jet for 18 minutes. Fortunately, [...]
In contact sports, it is common (and wise) to wear a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth. Without these guards, teeth may become chipped, cracked, or broken from impacts. Determining what kind of mouthguard to buy can be a difficult choice. The most protective and comfortable guards out there are custom ones created [...]
One of the big challenges in our lives is forging and maintaining social relationships. Time management, self-esteem, employment, and hygiene are a few factors that can make maintaining relationships easier or more difficult. Frequent migraines caused by TMJ can make this already challenging task seem insurmountable. Focusing on something as simple as a [...]
Studies have found a possible link between TMJ and anxiety. At present, findings have suggested that TMJ can be caused by anxiety, and anxiety can be caused by TMJ. A large number of variables have made it difficult to determine the exact relationship between the two, but the link seems to be there. [...]
In the ongoing search to find medications for breathing disorders like sleep apnea and asthma, two teams of researchers based at the University of Chicago have received grants from the National Institutes of Health for the development of possible solutions. One team, lead by Nanduri Prabhakar, PhD, will focus on researching [...]
During the day, our bodies take all kinds of abuse from our daily lives that we don’t even notice. From the spine-jarring action of walking on the sidewalk to expending large amounts of energy running for the bus stop, our bodies are worn out by the day’s end. Our sympathetic nervous system, which is active [...]
More than ten million people in the United States experience pain from TMJ, ranging from mild to extreme levels. Surprisingly, 90% of TMJ sufferers seeking treatment for severe symptoms are women in their childbearing years. Studies searching for the cause of these statistics are relatively new, and little is known about why more [...]
A recent article posted in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, designed to provide up-to-date health information world-wide, discusses a health index that found a close link between heart failure and depression. This index included 164,102 adults in the U.S. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in adults in the United States. Recent [...]
A new study suggests that, far from improving, family doctors might be getting worse at treating routine headaches. The evidence shows that even though guidelines recommend less imaging, fewer drugs, and more counseling, the trend is going in the opposite direction, making headache care more expensive, less effective, and adding risks. Keeping Watch [...]
Recently, researchers released the results of a study looking at the association between childhood abuse and migraine risk. Researchers were not able to show that abuse caused migraines--that was not their intent--but the strong association between the two factors, they say, should inform migraine treatment. A Strong Association Dawn Buse, one of the study authors, [...]
Sleep apnea is among the many conditions that can contribute to depression, such as TMD and tinnitus. Now a new study says that treating sleep apnea leads to an improvement in depression as well. The study is notable because it's a meta-study looking at nearly two dozen previous studies, [...]
There are many effective medical treatments available as a patch. Birth control. Pain relief. Stop smoking aids. All these patches work by slowly releasing medication into the body. However, a new technology proposed to treat tinnitus uses a completely different patch technology to try to treat tinnitus. Called Antinitus, the patch claims to [...]
According to a new study, migraine sufferers are nearly twice as likely to suffer from Bell's palsy. Although researchers in the study haven't explained the link, it could tell us more about migraine, and further explain how TMJ treatment helps migraine sufferers. What Is Bell's Palsy? Bell's palsy is an unusual condition [...]
A former warrant officer in the British Army Air Corps received a £1.5 million ($2.36 million) award from a judge for injuries sustained as a result of snoring surgery gone wrong. Richard Downing suffered a severe infection following surgery that has made him "effectively a prisoner" in his own home. And investigations into [...]
Good Mythical Morning is a video talk show posting to YouTube, featuring the "Intertainers" Rhett and Link. On an episode entitled "How to Cure TMJ," the intertainers amusingly spread awareness about TMJ, as well as some misinformation. Waking Up with Lockjaw The episode starts out talking about how Link woke up one morning [...]
Earlier this year, we noted that a Stanford doctor complained that “Headache care is 50 years behind things like diabetes and cancer.” In his mind, we just don't understand the mechanisms of headaches well enough to provide the same level of treatment for them as we do for these other disorders. But what [...]
People with sleep apnea are often encouraged to exercise to control their weight, increase muscle tone, and improve sleep. Unfortunately, it turns out that sleep apnea can make it harder for individuals to exercise. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego published findings that sleep apnea results in about a 14% reduction [...]
These days it seems like running has gained tremendously in popularity. And it's not just that more people are running, it's that more people are running longer and longer distances. Even Matthew Inman, the genius behind the blobular comic The Oatmeal, has become an ultramarathoner and written a book about running. Unfortunately, with all this [...]
During menopause, hormonal changes lead to a broad range of effects. Many women suffer sleeping problems, but may not realize that menopause increases their risk of sleep apnea, which not only wakes them at night, but leads to serious, potentially fatal consequences. How Menopause Contributes to Sleep Apnea Menopause contributes significantly to sleep [...]
Sometimes you will hear outrageous claims for alternative medical practices. In many cases, these claims are completely frivolous, but in other cases, science is coming to understand that some practices, like acupuncture can actually be effective. The traditional Chinese practice of qigong (sometimes spelled chi kung) hasn't been extensively evaluated, but it has [...]
A man in Florida has decided to raffle off his beer collection to help raise money for his wife's TMJ surgery. Florida is a state where TMJ treatment is covered by insurance, but Sara Black's insurance company has deemed her procedure to be "not medically necessary," leaving her stuck with the [...]
Daniel Fishkin, a Wesleyan University graduate student in music, recently debuted his new creation: "Composing the Tinnitus Suites:2014." It is a piece that he describes as his life's work, and one that he hopes will help find a cure for tinnitus. Composing against Tinnitus Fishkin first developed tinnitus when he was working [...]
Last year, a commuter train sped much too fast around a corner in the Bronx. The train derailed, killing four commuters and injuring more than 60 others. When the train derailed, windows came off and those injured fatally were thrown from the train, while those injured remained in the train. The property damage was in [...]
Some studies have shown that regular exercise is a great way to reduce the frequency of migraines, and may be as effective as medication. However, for other people exercise serves as a regular migraine trigger. Although there is some evidence that exercise is not as potent a migraine trigger as we used to believe, there [...]
When people are hospitalized for cardiovascular problems, it's an unfortunate truth that many of them will find their way back into the hospital soon after discharge. In fact, nearly a quarter (24%) of patients hospitalized for cardiovascular patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Researchers proposed that sleep apnea may be a [...]
One thing you can try to help your TMJ is jaw exercises. These can help some people improve symptoms such as jaw pain, and popping or clicking of the jaw joint. Because of their potential value, these exercises can be tried as part of homecare before you see a [...]
Sleep is important for the brain to consolidate memory. In fact, sleep isn't just one type of experience, it's many types, each with a specialized role in promoting memories in your brain. You need them all to ensure your brain is functioning at its highest levels. Here's a breakdown of the different types of sleep [...]
Can using your cell phone cause tinnitus? Frankly, at this point, we don't know the answer to this question, and it's a little frustrating because there have been a few interesting studies, but not enough follow-up. Cell Phone Use and Tinnitus There have been two studies focused specifically on the use of [...]
We periodically warn about the risks of common drugs, which many people use to help with control of TMJ jaw pain, headaches, and more. It's important to understand that over-the-counter doesn't mean "safe." Now a new study is highlighting the seriousness of risks that come with these common medications, showing that [...]
If you've been diagnosed with cervicogenic headaches (headaches caused by neck problems), the chances are very good that you also have TMJ. Although manual therapy is a good drug-free treatment for this type of headache, you can get even better results if you also have TMJ treatment. Identifying Cervicogenic [...]
TMJ is a joint dysfunction centered primarily on the temporomandibular joints that connect your jaw bone to your skull. Like arthritis, TMJ can result in painful swelling, an inability to open your jaw, and popping or clicking noises in the jaw. Is TMJ really a type of arthritis? What Is Arthritis? First, let's [...]
With increased interest in drug alternatives for treating migraines, people are going to back to reevaluate the effectiveness of some of these options. For some, there seems to be some truth to the old wisdom. For hundreds of years, feverfew has been used in a role similar to the way we now [...]
There are many potential causes of sleep bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding at night), but the most serious is sleep apnea. Many sleep apnea sufferers clench their teeth to help hold their airway open and help them breathe at night. This strategy has only limited success, and over time it can lead to [...]
In early September, the FDA gave clearance to the Levo system, a software-based tinnitus treatment designed for use on the iPad and iPod Touch. Utilizing proven neuroscience principles, the software allows you to create a custom masking sounds that you can listen to with your iPod at night. Built for Patient Benefit [...]
A leading anesthesiologist is fighting against new safety guidelines published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), because, he says, they actually put sleep apnea sufferers at risk, and could lead to unnecessary deaths. Managing Perioperative Risk Sleep apnea puts sufferers at risk for negative consequences during or after the use of anesthesia, [...]
For a routine health concern like recurring headaches, most of us will start by visiting our family doctor. The problem is that your family doctor may not be adequately prepared to handle a condition like TMJ that may be causing your headaches. Although training among doctors varies, we can look at [...]
There are many reasons why people can't tolerate wearing their CPAP every night. Masks may be uncomfortable or lead to feelings of claustrophobia. People may experience irritation of the skin or airway. Or it may just seem like a pain to put on the CPAP every night. However, for many people CPAP is [...]
Surgery is not recommended as a frontline sleep apnea treatment for many reasons. One of them is that it's hard to figure out how much of various tissues need to be removed to open up the airway. For this planning stage, surgeons typically induce sleep apnea, but this can be risky. Now a [...]
The TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado is offering a $500 scholarship for students who are going (or in) a D1 athletics program but didn't receive an athletic scholarship. To qualify, students must submit an application and a statement of need in the form of a 500 word essay. Student Debt Linked to Poor [...]
For a long time, it was thought that caffeine contributed to tinnitus risk, but without good data. Now a new study of the connection between caffeine and tinnitus shows that caffeine may actually protect from tinnitus. Large Study of Nurses The new study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, used diet data [...]
People with tinnitus often report depression, anxiety, stress, irritability, and other emotional problems that diminish their quality of life, but until now, no-one has really explored the connection between tinnitus and emotions. Now researchers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show how people with tinnitus [...]
With the NFL preseason already underway, excitement for the coming season is ramping up all around Bronco country. But it's important to remember that the players who put their bodies on the line every week for our entertainment sometimes suffer dire consequences as a result of the punishment they put on their body. The NFL [...]
Most of the time, we associate arthritis with the elderly, but it can actually affect children. Most often, this is what is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The condition is an autoimmune disorder. For reasons that remain somewhat mysterious the immune system begins to attack tissues of the body, especially [...]
The summer road trip is an American tradition, but as summer rolls on and many families return from their vacations, they find that they have suffered back, neck, or jaw pain as a result of the trip.But if you're getting ready to hit the road or if you're at a rest stop trying [...]
This month when an expert panel of doctors in California met to consider the evidence effectiveness of new migraine treatments, Dr. Robert Cowan, director of Stanford University's Headache Clinic expressed his frustration at the state of the art in headache care: "Headache care is 50 years behind things like diabetes and cancer." The [...]
If you make noise during sleep, you might assume right away that it's snoring, but the truth is that those noises may not be snoring at all. Instead, it may be catathrenia, night groaning, which might be more closely related to sleepwalking than snoring.. Distinguishing Sleep Groaning and Snoring Snoring and sleep groaning [...]
A 50-year-old German man went to a neurologist's office for treatment of serious headaches. They had only been going on for a couple of weeks, but the man found he was disabled by them, and they seemed to be increasing in severity. It turns out the headaches were caused by a rare but [...]
Recent research shows that attractive people are less likely to get chronic illnesses including tinnitus, which researchers say shows that attractiveness is a sign of healthy genes and plays an important evolutionary role. Attractiveness and Illness Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and elsewhere looked at the medical records of 15,000 people that [...]
The American medical system generally loves its drugs. As a result, about 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug, and 20% of us take five or more. Crunch the numbers on that and you can see that there's a lot of revenue there, revenue that pharmaceutical companies are more than happy to collect. [...]
With the high-profile cases of a young woman who slipped into a coma and a teen who died of infection following wisdom tooth removal, the issue of whether we should routinely have wisdom teeth removed has become more controversial. Adding to that controversy is new findings that TMJ may be a complication [...]
If you need any confirmation of just how mysterious tinnitus is, you need only look at one interesting fact: it's one of a very small number of conditions that currently doesn't have any drugs approved to treat it. The US medical community is very big on drug treatments, and if they could [...]
Sleep apnea causes serious risks for everyone, but now a new study highlights the magnitude of that risk for pregnant women. When expecting, the possibilty of sleep apnea definitely increases. Research from the University of South Florida shows that, among other things, sleep apnea increases the risk of a woman dying [...]
Although some studies suggest possibilities, we're not entirely certain what causes TMJ. It's most likely the result of injury, diet, and genetic factors, and some have even suggested that it's something modern people are more prone to, which would make sense if it were related to routine crowding, which is much more common [...]
When the RDC-TMD Consortium announced its new diagnostic criteria, which have been embraced by the American Dental Association (ADA), it moved us a long way toward having good definitions of different TMJ conditions. But it didn't necessarily clear things up for many people who may still wonder what some of the [...]
According to a new study published online ahead of print, sleep apnea is indeed strongly associated with diabetes. This study confirms earlier smaller studies that found the association between the sleep disorder and the metabolic disorder. The Largest Study Ever The new study looked at nearly 8700 adults in Canada over a median [...]
