March 11th is the day we change our clocks for Daylight Savings Time – and lose an hour of sleep. Every year when we “Spring forward” it seems to take a couple of weeks to shake off the effects of losing that one hour of sleep.

Sleep is considered one of the three pillars of good health. The two others, nutrition and exercise, have gotten a lot of attention over the years but the importance of sleep is finally hitting the mainstream. AOL, in conjunction with the Huffington Post has an entire section devoted to sleep information.

On March 12th we can predict that most of us will be a little groggy and feel sleepy during the day. But what should you do if you feel that way every morning?

If you experience severe daytime sleepiness it means that there is a problem with your sleep at night. Some sleep disorders are obvious. Patients who suffer from insomnia know the frustration of not being able to fall asleep. Sleep breathing disorders are different however. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea fall asleep and think that they have slept a full night – they don’t understand why they never feel rested.

The majority of people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea have not been diagnosed. Most will not seek help unless a bed partner complains about the loud snoring or tells them that they stop breathing during sleep. If anyone has said these things to you it is time to get checked out. You can get your energy and your health back on track by treating your obstructive sleep apnea with an oral appliance.

Contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH today to schedule your dental sleep medicine consultation. If you have already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and are CPAP intolerant we can help. If you are unsure about your diagnosis please call 614-476-6696 today.