We treat a lot of music lovers at our Lincroft, NJ dentists’ office. And it recently came up in a conversation with a patient that when Dead & Company played the Garden State a few weeks ago, they had John Mayer on stage filling some pretty big shoes. That’s because, according to some sources, Jerry Garcia (the famed 60s icon and Grateful Dead guitarist) suffered from sleep apnea. And it has been asserted that his fatal heart attack in the summer of 1995 may have been due to this dangerous condition.

You see, if left undiagnosed or untreated, sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your body’s entire system. Besides the extra stress put on you due to lack of quality sleep, the lack of oxygen when you do sleep is a real problem. Hypoxemia (lack of oxygen in the blood) can be linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications. Sleep apnea can also lead to type 2 diabetes, liver problems, daytime fatigue, and other total-system issues. As we started out by saying, it can even result in death!

There is some good news for you, however. If your sleep apnea falls in the mild to moderate range, we can usually create a custom dental device for you. This will be designed to adjust your jaw so that your airway stays open while you sleep. This option can be used on its own or in conjunction with a CPAP machine. One way or another, we’ll find the right solution for your current needs. Seriously, we won’t rest until you are able to!

In Jerry’s honor, we have included a classic video link for your enjoyment. We just hope that if you or your partner needs help managing sleep apnea symptoms, you will take it seriously enough to call Newman Springs Dental Care at 732-352-3903 or fill out our online form for an easy sleep apnea consultation appointment in Lincroft, NJ.