Dr Ron Ehrlich is one of Australia’s leading holistic health practitioners, educators and a dentist. Dr Ehrlich has a strong interest in sleep and its impacts on dental health and general well being. Dr Desai discusses with Dr Ehrlich the importance of sleep and sleep disorders.
After a general discussion on why sleep is important, Dr Desai discusses common sleep disorders, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). He explains what snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea is and gives some insights in to sleep studies. He explains “apnoeas” or pauses in breathing during sleep and the “apnoea hypopnoea index”, a medical term that describes the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. The link between obstructive sleep apnoea and mental health is discussed, as well as common risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleepiness on the road, the risk of car accidents from falling asleep at the wheel, and the medicolegal side of untreated sleep disorders are discussed. CPAP therapy, mandibular advancement splints, surgery and weight loss are outlined as treatments for OSA.