the DOCTOR is in Don’t
the DOCTOR is in Don’t take insomnia lying down If you wake up feeling more tired than when you went to sleep, you may have a sleep disorder. There are many manifestations of sleep disorders: snoring, narcolepsy, insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring is a blockage of the airways of your nose, mouth or throat, resulting in noisy vibrating of the tissues. Not only will it wake you up, it will leave you tired the next day. Narcolepsy is the condition of having too much sleep. If you have narcolepsy, you have sudden “sleep attacks,” lasting from a minute to more than a half-hour. The two more common sleep disorders are insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep. This is often caused by drinking alcohol close to bedtime or eating late at night. Stress or a IMAD M. MANSOOR, M.D. SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS medical condition also can be a factor. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most serious sleep disorder, and should not be taken lightly. It can lead to physical problems, such as a drop in oxygen flow to the lungs, creating a breathing failure and ultimately heart failure. It also leads to emotional problems: nervousness and lethargy. Fatigue and low energy can also be attributed to obstructive sleep apnea. More than 47 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, while another 20 million suffer from occasional sleep problems. According to the American College of Chest Physicians, lack of sleep can have dangerous effects: increased sleepiness and reaction time; reduced attention, vigilance and concentration; impaired performance; increased More than 47 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, while another 20 million suffer from occasional sleep problems. numbers of accidents and medical errors; and excessive fatigue. Lack of sleep also can be detrimental to many body systems, such as respiratory, cardiac and metabolic. A national study showed that loss of sleep is detrimental to learning and cognition, job performance, wellbeing and relationships. Adults should have seven to eight hours of sleep per night. If not, you should see your physician, who will help you determine the cause of your lack of sleep. Then he or she will educate you about proper sleep hygiene: sleeping during proper “sleep hours,” being in comfortable surroundings, having proper air flow, watching alcohol intake and paying attention to eating times. In the short term, he or she may prescribe a sleep aid, but only as a last resort. Talk to your physician. He or she will help you put your mind and body at rest. Imad M. Mansoor, M.D., is an internal medicine physician at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. He also specializes in geriatric, hospice and palliative medicine. He can be contacted at (248) 454-1004. 50 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2008
the DENTIST is in Brush that bad breath away More than 90 million Americans suffer from chronic halitosis — better known as bad breath. In most cases, it originates from the gums and tongue. The odor is caused by bacteria from the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulfur compound that causes the unpleasant odor. Bad breath is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene, but can also be caused by retained food particles or gum disease. Proper brushing, including brushing the tongue, cheeks and the roof of the mouth, will remove bacteria and food particles. Flossing removes accumulated bacteria, plaque and food that may be trapped between teeth, and mouth rinses are an effective temporary relief of bad breath. Consult your dentist if the condition persists. BADEE GEORGE NASSOURI SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS Halitosis also may occur in people who have a medical condition like gum disease, diabetes, kidney failure, liver malfunction and chronic sinusitis. Dry mouth and tobacco also contribute to this problem. Cancer patients who undergo radiation treatment may experience dry mouth. Even stress, dieting, snoring, age and hormonal changes can have an effect on your breath. An odor that comes from the back of your throat may indicate post-nasal drip. This is where the mucus secretion, which comes from the nose and moves down your throat, gets stuck on the tongue and causes an odor. Bad breath originating in the stomach, however, is considered extremely rare. Saliva is the key ingredient in your mouth that helps keep the odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria. When you It’s important to practice good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. sleep, however, salivary glands slow down the production of saliva allowing the bacteria to grow inside the mouth. To alleviate “morning mouth,” brush your teeth and tongue and eat a morning meal. Morning mouth is also associated with hunger or fasting. Those who skip breakfast beware, because the odor may reappear even in you have brushed your teeth. Very spicy foods, such as onions, garlic and coffee, may be detected on a person’s breath up to 72 hours after digestion. Onions, for example, are absorbed by the stomach and the odor is excreted through the lungs. Studies have even shown that garlic rubbed on the soles of the feet can show up on your breath. It’s important to practice good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. To alleviate odor, clean the tongue with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper, which is a plastic tool that scrapes away builtup bacteria and food particles. Chewing sugar-free gum may also help control odor. If you have dentures or a removable appliance, clean it thoroughly and rinse with a deodorant before replacing in the mouth. We must treat the cause of bad breath, which affects the relationship between man and woman and also affects a person’s business and social life. Badee George Nassouri practiced dentistry in Baghdad for 40 years. Now retired, he resides in Madison Heights. AUGUST 2008 CHALDEAN NEWS 51
