Guy Levy DDS’s Blog
I’m sooo tired
This is the third installation of information that may help you understand why you don’t feel as well as you think you should. Read the first two, on Sleep Apnea and Medications. Like sleep apnea, anemia can lead to a less than ideal level of oxygen available to your body. Anemia is a condition where your red blood cells are not healthy and fail to effectively transport oxygen to your vital organs. Although there are more than 400 recognized causes of anemia, there are two causes you should consider right off the bat. Iron deficiency is common, especially in pre-menopausal women. The second is pernicious anemia, which is the inability to digest vitamin B12. Discuss this with your doctor. If you are otherwise healthy and your doctor is supportive, consider trying an iron supplement (there are iron supplements available that do not cause constipation). To get past the B12 digestion issue, a B12 tablet is available that dissolves under the tongue. Some people will also have B12 injections. There is obviously a lot more to this issue, but this is just intended to get you...There’s a reason you’re feeling tired all the time
Feeling exhausted all the time? Suffering from headaches or even migraines? Sleep apnea, the condition where interrupted breathing during sleep reduces the amount of oxygen available to your body, can negatively impact all body functions. Many people are aroused from sleep hundreds of times during the night due to disruptive breathing and are completely unaware of this in the morning. You have to be awake for 6 seconds before you realize and have memory that you were actually awake. Research presented at a meeting of the American Headache Society suggests that sleep deprivation changes protein levels in the body that are known to initiate and sustain pain. These same proteins are thought to be a critical part of the migraine headache condition. Talk to your doctor about referring you to a sleep clinic for a sleep study, if you think you may have sleep...Not feeling well, but not actually ill?
So you have frequent headaches, are always kind of tired, your mouth burns at times, your tongue feels funny or burns at times, your muscles are sore, your joints ache, your gums never had bleeding before but now they do, you just don’t feel right? You went to your doctor who did a lot of tests and your doctor ruled out all of the bad things that could be wrong with you. Does any of this apply to you? If so, what do you do next? In my opinion, you need to approach your health as a check list. Your first step to feeling better should start with a visit to your medicine cabinet. Do you regularly take prescription medications? According to the National Hospital Discharge Survey, in 1996 there were more hospital admissions for “preventable drug related morbidities [illnesses]” than those for diabetes and asthma combined! Every medication has side effects and, even if the side effects are rare, they have to happen to somebody…that somebody may be you. If you are taking multiple medications, there may be bad interactions, even if the bad interactions are rare, they have to happen to somebody…Generics are “supposed” to be the same as the branded product, but many times are not. So, if you feel there may be a negative link between your medication(s) and your health problem, talk to your doctor or your pharmacist (pharmacists are very knowledgeable too). Ask what you can do to eliminate as many medications as possible (possible lifestyle changes), ask if you can take a “drug holiday” to see if you feel better, ask if...Feeling like you could chew nails?
Or ice? Maybe it’s an iron deficiency. It’s not uncommon for patients to confess to their dentists the urge to chew ice. This is really bad for your teeth, but also can indicate an iron deficiency. Two studies published in “Science Daily” report the importance of dietary iron for people of all ages. Without the proper amount of iron, your oxygen is poorly transported to your organs and most body functions suffer. Too much iron can be toxic. If you find you have an urge to chew ice, check with your doctor about a possible iron deficiency...Your fillings may contain mercury. Are they really safe?
In a word, yes. People are sometimes concerned about the mercury present in silver amalgam dental fillings, particularly if they have old fillings that are breaking down. First a little background: mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature. Until recent years almost all thermometers had mercury in them, as well as many types of switches. Today, most mercury exposure originates with the burning of coal. When the coal is burned thousands of tons of mercury are released annually from the smoke stacks and pushed into the air. This mercury comes back down to earth and becomes part of the food chain, especially with fish. When the mercury becomes part of the food chain it is changed from being a simple metal to what is known as organic mercury or methyl mercury. We cannot digest the plain metal mercury, but the organic mercury is toxic to us. Dental silver amalgam creates a new metal with silver and mercury and does NOT have organic...Avoid a vacation toothache
With Summer vacation time coming, travel plans are coming together. We suggest a trip to your dentist before you go may need to be part of your plan. Air travel can stimulate pain in teeth with faulty dental restorations and cavities (noted 30% of the time) and root canal problems (also noted about 30% of the time), according to a report from Oral Surg and Medicine. The next most common painful dental condition was from recent dental treatment (10%). Non-dental problems that are common include sinusitis and joint/muscle pain. If you think you may have a dental problem, have it checked and possibly treated before you fly – and enjoy the journey as much as the...Gum disease-diabetes link
A study in The Cochrane Library led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh has pointed out a yet another reason for those with Type 2 diabetes to regularly see their dentist. Their study suggests that the treatment of serious gum (periodontal) disease in diabetics with Type 2 diabetes may lower their blood sugar levels. Current thinking is that, when bacteria infect the mouth and cause inflammation, the resulting chemical changes reduce the effectiveness of insulin produced in the body, thus making it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Good blood sugar control contributes to lowering the risk of serious complications linked to the condition, such as eye problems and heart disease. It’s a good reason to take good care of your teeth! (Adapted from Science...Waking up feeling tired?
Many people are aroused from sleep hundreds of times during the night due to sleep apnea (disruptive breathing) and are completely unaware of this in the morning. You have to be awake for 6 seconds before you realize and have memory that you were actually awake. Research presented at the 52nd annual meeting in June of the American Headache Society suggests that sleep deprivation changes protein levels in the body that are known to initiate and sustain pain. These same proteins are thought to be a critical part of the migraine headache condition. And, naturally, if you are waking up many times a night, you aren’t getting the rest you need. Talk to your doctor about referring you to a sleep clinic for a sleep study if you think you may have sleep...
People Suffering From Tooth Sensitivity Advised To Visit Dentist
People who are suffering from tooth sensitivity issues should visit their dentist immediately, who can establish a treatment and prevention plan. The pain is likely caused by issues with the tooth enamel, as it is worn away by things such as sodas, sports and energy drinks, and wine due to their acidity, KYTX reports. Moreover, enamel can be damaged by overly vigorous brushing and chewing on ice. KYTX adds that using fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinse can also help with sensitivity, because it helps strengthen enamel. Do You Have Sensitive Teeth? Sensitive teeth are not normal. Many of us live with pain on a regular basis, but most dental sensitivity and pain can be corrected and/or avoided. There are many potential causes and your dentist can help you figure out the cause and possible solutions. In our practice, we typically look for the least invasive and most economical solutions for any diagnosed...Study: C. Diff Spreading Outside Of Hospitals
NBC News reports that “more than 450,000 Americans” are infected by “the deadly bug Clostridium difficile each year, according to a new report” published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study cites antibiotic overuse as a primary “driver” of C. diff infection, and “showed people are not just getting infected in hospitals,” as infections have stemmed from “doctors’ offices, the dentist’s chair, and other healthcare settings,” NBC reports. USA Today also reports the study, adding that in 2011, about 29,000 deaths were associated with C. diff, according to the study. It also reports, “C. diff is the most common health care-associated infection in the USA, costing hospitals $4.8 billion a year, according to the CDC,” which participated in the study. Moreover, USA Today reports that more than 80 percent of patients who contracted C. diff outside of hospitals “had visited outpatient doctor’s or dentist’s offices in the previous 12 weeks, according to the CDC.” C. diff bacteria “are hardy” and will survive on bed linens, bathroom fixtures and medical equipment, the CDC said, and hand sanitizers don’t kill C. diff. Opportunistic Infections One of the most common infections to occur when your health has been compromised, mostly due to antibiotic use or over-use, is Clostridia difficile, also known as “C. diff.” It is estimated about a half million people in this country contract C. diff every year, and in 2011 there were 29,000 deaths attributed to C. diff. If you have to take an antibiotic, consider taking a probiotic a couple of hours before or after your antibiotic dose, in order to restore and re-balance your...Make An Appointment
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