• NYC UES Office
  • 970 Park Avenue, Suite GFN,
    New York, NY 10028
  • Carnegie hill Office
  • 1175 park avenue,
    new york, ny 10128

Month: July 2014

We all know that a little bit of snoring here and there is perfectly normal. So how do you know when it’s snoring that you’re dealing with and when it’s sleep apnea?young couple lying in bedRest assured, we get this question all the time. And the answer is that while a formal diagnosis has to be done by us here in the office, you may be able to get a better idea of which scenario you are dealing with simply by answering a few questions at home.

Here are some of the most commonly reported symptoms of sleep apnea. Do you experience any (or several) of these? If so, give us a quick call and we can schedule a consultation to diagnose (or rule out) and treat your condition.

  • Snoring with pauses, after which choking or gasping follow. Ask a bed partner to observe your sleep habits or set up a recorder overnight.
  • Excessive sleepiness (falling asleep) during the day. This happens because the breathing pauses during the night cause your brain to repeatedly disturb your sleep just enough to make you start breathing again. Consequently, you never spend enough time in the restful part of sleep to be fully rested the next day.
  • Memory problems, concentration problems
  • Headaches, especially in the morning
  • Frequent trips to the bathroom during the night
  • Dry mouth in the morning
  • Moodiness, irritability and depression

While sleep apnea is a fairly common sleep disorder, it is an important one to tackle because it can cause damage to the organs over time. Treatment options range from CPAP machines that give pressurized oxygen while you sleep to surgery.

If you think that you may have sleep apnea, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.

To learn more about snoring and sleep apnea, please visit Dr. Cohen’s article in the Huffington Post, “Snoring and Sleep Apnea: What’s the Difference?

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Almost everyone has some feelings of nervousness when thinking about visiting the dentist. We hear it all the time from our patients. But don’t worry (I know, easier said than done). It is totally normal to have a bit of anxiety (or even a lot of anxiety) before you come to our office.sedatedIn our office, we have many years of experience in dealing with nervous patients. So to help you out, we’ve compiled this quick yet effective set of tips for dealing with those inevitable nerves before your dental procedure.

  1. Let us know! – Sometimes just saying the words, “I’m a little bit nervous” can help by normalizing the nervousness itself a little bit, which instantly releases some of that stress that has the tendency to build up in your system. It also alerts us, which is great! In fact, we might just be able to help by doing procedures a little bit differently than we normally would or even just by offering some words of encouragement and reassurance.
  2. Music – Ask us to turn up (or down) the music in your exam room if that helps. Or, depending on the procedure, you may even be able to listen to your own MP3 player while we work away. Ask us ahead of time to be sure the procedure will allow for this.
  3. Breathe – Did you know that consciously taking a breath instantly calls to action your parasympathetic nervous system which is the part of the brain responsible for calming you down? The good news is that you always have your breath with you, so don’t forget to use it! Just by paying attention to your breath, for example, how it feels coming in and going out and the other sensations it creates, you can access the calming center of your brain. An easy breathing exercise that can be used anytime, anywhere, including in the dental chair is to breathe in for 4 counts, then out for 4 counts. You will instantly feel better.

We hope you find these tips helpful in dealing with your dental fears. Just remember, you are not alone.