July 11, 2008
Taking Control Of Your Health: Step Six (Continued) – Sleep Apnea And An Inflammation Link
The last post on sleep apnea – for now, at least. I’m spending so much time on it because it truly does pose risks for people who work hard to manage their diabetes symptoms and is also linked with dental health.
Another way gum disease plays into sleep apnea is associated with something called amyloidosis. This is a somewhat rare inflammatory disorder in which proteins called amyloids are abnormally deposited in various tissues. This buildup can cause serious changes.
Researchers have documented it as a cause of severe periodontal disease. The link with gum disease and sleep apnea involves the tongue. In amyloidosis, about 20 percent of people will develop an enlarged tongue. Not only can this interfere with speaking and swallowing. By posing an even larger airway obstruction during sleep, it can also cause sleep apnea.
Amyloidosis is a type of inflammatory disorder along the lines of rheumatoid arthritis. Some researchers believe the immune system and inflammation are key factors in both arthritis and gum disease. No one is ready to say that periodontal disease causes rheumatoid arthritis, but I think most medical and dental professionals would agree that the relationship between bacterial infection in the mouth and arthritis is definitely worth further study.
Did you know that there is a closed loop between your dental health and your ability to successfully manage your blood sugar? For more diabetes information, get your free five-lesson mini-course on diabetes and your teeth at DentistryForDiabetics.com.
Filed under Blog by
