Rest Assured: Your Best Night’s Sleep Starts Here

What is Sleep Apnea?

Have you ever woken up from a full night’s sleep still feeling tired? You might unknowingly be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you are sleeping. Sleep apnea has a significant impact on your overall health and well-being, and it has been known to contribute to a number of serious medical problems. Insufficient sleep, as a result of sleep apnea, has been recognized as a global health issue and public health epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can affect anyone, and most people with sleep apnea are unaware that they have this condition. So, what signs and symptoms should you and or your spouse look out for?

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The following signs and symptoms are common indicators of sleep apnea: loud breathing, snoring, dry mouth, gasping and choking while sleeping, fatigue, excessive daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, mood swings, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, weight gain, frequent visits to the bathroom, insomnia, nightmares, and trouble staying asleep. If you notice any of these signs and feel you are at risk for sleep apnea, Rest Assured is here to diagnosis, treat, and provide relief from sleep apnea today!

Rest Assured

Dr. Drew Shabo and his wife, Tina Shabo, opened Rest Assured in 2019. Their office is centrally located in the heart of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Dr. Shabo is the

premier provider of oral appliance therapy and dental sleep medicine in our community and surrounding areas. Dr. Shabo’s experience in dentistry while working at an office in Chattanooga, TN, exposed him to many patients unknowingly struggling with sleep apnea. It was also during this time that Dr. Shabo lost two of his friends, both of whom suddenly passed away from this disorder. So, unsurprisingly, Dr. Shabo’s attention and personal interest in this area grew. “Most people are uneducated about sleep apnea and the many causes and issues surrounding our health. Only now is awareness on the forefront,” said Tina Shabo.

Rest Assured offers home sleep testing to help diagnose sleep apnea so that you can begin to receive the care you need. “These home sleep tests measure the effectiveness of treatment and the level of sleep apnea a person has. These tests are important and the initial step to receiving treatment. Our patients can bring in their results the very next day,” said Tina Shabo.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Rest Assured specializes in sleep apnea treatment with the new NightLase laser. NightLase is a noninvasive, nonsurgical procedure with no pain, downtime, or sideeffects to successfully open airways on patients with sleep apnea and eliminate or reduce snoring. This short, 20-minute treatment has a very high success rate without requiring appliances or compliance. Rest Assured has found that 78% of patients experience a measurable improvement of over 50% after the first treatment. Rest Assured is the only office in the Cleveland and Chattanooga area to have and provide treatment with the NightLase laser. “We have seen the NightLase laser eliminate snoring after just three treatments. This laser treatment is burn-free, painless, and smooth,” said Tina Shabo.

Sleep apnea is caused by obstructions in the airway. These obstructions are typically the result of the soft tissues of the throat “collapsing” or the tongue rolling back to block the throat and airway. Oral appliance therapy works to keep the airways open so that you can breathe normally while asleep. Oral appliances work by advancing the lower jaw slightly forward. This movement tightens the soft tissues and muscles of the upper airway, preventing them from vibrating and becoming an obstruction to your airway while you sleep. An oral appliance will also help the tissues at the back of your throat relax and prevent your tongue from rolling back. Dr. Shabo has extensive experience designing custom appliances, and each oral appliance is custom milled to fit your mouth perfectly. A device is based on an imprint taken of your mouth, and Rest Assured considers a variety of different manufacturers, styles, and designs when creating your appliance. So, your sleep apnea device and treatment are managed with the personalized care to meet your specific needs.

If you are uncertain if you are affected by sleep apnea, Rest Assured encourages you to complete their sleep assessment form, which you can access through their website at www.restassured.com. This form can help determine if you are at risk for sleep apnea and whether or not a home sleep test is a good option for you. You can browse their website for more information, sleep apnea FAQ, and patient resources. If you have any questions about home sleep testing or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shabo, please call Rest Assured at (423)-790-0123. Their office is located at 4245 North Ocoee St., Suite 4, Cleveland, TN 37312.