female sexual dysfunction (FDS), and manifesting itself
in decreased sexual desire, pain, lower sexual satisfaction
and lubrication problems.
People who have restless leg syndrome or are constantly
moving from side to side with interrupted sleep patterns
are also at risk due to the fact that their REM sleep is di-
minished and, consequently, so is their testosterone pro-
duction.
The good news is that sleep apnea can be treated and
your sex life can be improved. If you snore, have weight
issues or have any type of sex or sleep issues, inform your
primary care doctor, ENT, pulmonologist or internist im-
mediately. You can be treated with either a CPAP machine
or oral appliance therapy.
One of the biggest problems is patient treatment com-
pliance. For those who cannot tolerate a CPAP and have
mild to moderate sleep apnea, the oral appliance is an
excellent, noninvasive and highly accepted treatment. It
opens the airway by advancing the lower jaw forward and
creating more room so that the tongue and soft palate will
not block the airway.
Once your sleep apnea is treated, you will also be able to
lose weight more easily, due to the rebalancing of the hor-
mones leptin and ghrelin. Your leaner body will look bet-
ter, and your confidence level will improve. Improving the
quality of your sleep will benefit your sex life, your overall
health and your longevity.
Dr. Michael Doblin graduated from the University of Missouri in
1972. He maintained a successful dental practice for more than 37
years. For the past five years, Dr. Doblin has been involved exclu-
sively in treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. He is ded-
icated to educating people and helping them sleep better. From
his offices in Fair Lawn and Trenton, he is able to screen, evaluate
and treat snoring and sleep apnea.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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