Empowered Patient Podcast Why Dentists Should Screen for Sleep Apnea with Dr. Kent Smith Sleep Dallas
Dr. Kent Smith, the Chief Executive Officer at Sleep Dallas, raises concerns about the impact of sleep disorders and untreated sleep apnea. He emphasizes that physicians don't always ask patients about the quality of their sleep and that dentists have more time with patients to explore the underlying reasons for inadequate deep sleep.
Kent explains, "I think many in healthcare aren't aware that poor sleep or ineffective sleep or lack of sleep, or unhealthy sleep, can have a severe impact on someone's health. I mean, just cutting the number of hours of sleep can increase cardiovascular disease."
"So then, when you start talking about unhealthy sleep, yes it can lead to diabetes, sudden cardiac death, high blood pressure, depression, and acid reflux. The body needs oxygen. And if the body's not getting oxygen during sleep, then all kinds of bad things can happen."
"I ask every one of my patients, how many hours of sleep do you get? What time do you go to sleep, and what time do you wake up? It's amazing how many only get five or six hours. And it's just routine. And they wonder why they have the health problems they do. So at least we educate them, but I'm afraid sometimes it's too late, and they've already had their first heart attack, or they've already got type two diabetes."
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