Vol. 10, Issue 5, May 2021
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Sleep Better Tampa Offers Device to Prevent Sleep Apnea By Deborah Bostock-Kelley If you or a loved one have difficulty sleeping, snore frequently, still feel tired upon waking, or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a safe, nonsurgical treatment is available as an alternative to the often noisy and sometimes expensive CPAP machine. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that happens when your regular breathing is interrupted during sleep. Dr. Juliet Bulnes-Newton, a local sleep expert and American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) Diplomate, has practiced dentistry for over 18 years, with a focus on dental sleep medicine for nearly a decade. She founded Sleep Better Tampa as part of Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry, a practice she owns and operates with Dr. Laura Goodwin and Dr. Amanda Del Cueto. Through Sleep Better Tampa, adult patients can be fitted with an oral therapy device that repositions the mouth to increase airflow while sleeping. It gently moves your jaw forward, lifting the palate and preventing your tongue from falling backward. The device keeps your airway open throughout the night, so you continue to get oxygen to properly breathe. It fits snugly against your teeth, so there is no risk of swallowing the device. “In the simplest of terms, it’s like a mouthguard, but there is so much more to it than that,” Dr. Bulnes-Newton said. If you fear CPAP, which is commonly prescribed for consistent breathing throughout the night, this safe FDA-approved option
Dr. Juliet Bulnes-Newton
Through Sleep Better Tampa, adult patients can be fitted with an oral therapy device that repositions the mouth to increase airflow while sleeping.
may be the answer. Most medical insurance carriers and Medicare cover oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea. The device is custom-fabricated and custom-fitted for each patient - no one size fits all. It can be used for sleep apnea and snoring prevention. Some signs of sleep apnea include difficulty sleeping, insomnia, excessive daytime drowsiness, falling asleep unintentionally during the day, loud snoring at night, waking up at night short of breath, gasping for breath while sleeping, and headaches upon waking because you are not getting enough oxygen to your brain throughout the night. Dr. BulnesNewton recommends getting tested for sleep apnea if you are experiencing these symptoms. Her practice also offers the ability to facilitate a home sleep study, sent right to your home. “Short-term, you wake up with headaches. See “Sleep Better Tampa” on page 12
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor.....................5 Renaissance Relocates Tickets on Sale NOW...........8 Tech Talk with Bob.............10
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4 MAY 2021
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May is a busy month! Full of holidays, commemorations, proclamations, awareness events, and Mexican food! Let’s start with Memorial Day, formally known as Decoration Day. This is a federal holiday observed yearly on the last Monday of May. This year, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 31st, 2021, and it is a day to commemorate all men and women who have died while serving in the military for the United States of America. Many local business owners understand the significance of this Holiday and show their support by offering amazing Memorial Day specials, one-of-a-kind offers, and fantastic discounts on merchandise, products, and services. Make sure to carefully browse this issue of Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles, so you can take advantage of those great deals and save big this upcoming Memorial Day! Aside from Memorial Day, the month of May houses a few other special days as well. On the 2nd Sunday of May, we celebrate International Mother’s Day. This 2021, we will be celebrating on Sunday, May 9th. I would like to personally wish all mothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and even pet moms a very Happy Mother’s Day! I would also like to take this opportunity to personally wish my own mother, Berardina Tedeschi, a very Happy Mother’s Day. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model. I love you so much. Thank you for never giving up on me. Remember, successful mothers are not the ones that never struggle or get frustrated; they are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles and continue loving unconditionally. Are any of our readers Star Wars fans? May the 4th be with you! Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates George Lucas’ Star Wars. Fans of the media franchise observe it by re-watching the Star Wars movies, wearing costumes, sharing movie quotes, and posting funny memes on social media. The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase “May The Force Be With You” as “May The Fourth Be With You.” Also, in May, many of us look forward to “Cinco de Mayo,” which is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. You wouldn’t guess it, but Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, but in the United States has evolved into a huge commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, and the Holiday is frequently confused with “Mexico’s Independence Day,” which takes place on September 16th. So make sure you
celebrate safely, and if possible, support some of our local restaurants, even from the comfort of your own home. Lastly, I want to bring your attention to something of importance that also takes place during this beautiful spring month, Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Many states and counties have taken steps to raise awareness regarding Lyme and tickborne diseases. Declaring May “Lyme Awareness Month” is one move to help remind people spring is here, ticks are out, prevention, and proper education are your best tools to staying healthy. With the spread of the disease to all 50 states, Lyme awareness, education, and early intervention are critical. Even though Lyme disease may not be common in Florida, you can still get infected. Take it from someone who is currently battling this debilitating and life-altering condition. Please be prepared and learn the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. If you have symptoms such as; high fevers, chills, body aches, weight gain/loss, TMJ, headaches/ migraines, extreme fatigue, muscle and joint aches, arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly on the knees and other large joints, severe inflammation, heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, and problems with short-term memory amongst others, please contact your primary physician. Ask him or her to advise you and refer you to a Lyme Disease specialist near you. If you’d like to personally talk to me about my Lyme disease journey and the doctors that have helped me, please feel free to email me directly at carla@ nnlflorida.com. You are not alone! Fighting Lyme has been an uphill battle, but with the proper diagnosis and treatment, you’ll be one step closer to a healthier you. It’s been tough to open up to everyone about this, but if I can help raise awareness with my own story, then so be it. The COVID pandemic is still in full force, but there are many kinds of diseases still out there that can also mimic similar symptoms. Proper diagnosis is key. If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that’s going on in your life. Please take care of yourself, eat a healthy diet, make sleep a priority, find a fitness habit that works for you, and don’t get too stressed out. Stress can wreak havoc on your body. Treat everyone with kindness, starting with your own self.
Until next time,
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi.
6 MAY 2021
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MAY 2021 7
Renaissance Relocates Amid 2021 Challenges Tickets on Sale NOW
The show will go on! The Bay Area Renaissance Festival has relocated to the spectacular, ancient forest of Withlacoochee River Park. Please join us as we partner with Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources for a once in a lifetime celebration. This year the Festival has relocated from MOSI. Join the Villagers of Fittleworth and Queen Katherine Parr and her court as they invite one and all to the magical 16th Century European village featuring 4 stages of exciting entertainment including: musicians, magicians, jugglers and mimes. Over 100 artisans fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, 6 theme
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weekends, and fabulous food fit for a king or queen! The first weekend of the 2021 Bay Area Renaissance Festival kicked off on Saturday, April 17th and will run 6 weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) through May 23rd. A festival tradition for over 40 years, the Bay Area Renaissance Festival brings some of the most unique entertainment, shopping and educational opportunities. Each weekend features a different theme that connects specialized entertainers, vendors, and artisans who help bring the theme to life! This year’s theme weekends are: Wine, Romance & Song, Pirates & Pups, Barbarian Brew, Shamrocks & Shenanigans, High Seas Adventure and Wonders of the World. The 43rd annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival runs 10
a.m. – 6 p.m. rain or shine. The festival is located ¬at Withlacoochee River Park 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd, Dade City, FL 33525. At the gate: Adults $22.95; Children 5-12 $14.95; four and under are free. Free parking, rain or shine. Tickets are on sale now and are available online at: https:// www.etix.com/ticket/v/18455/
bay-area-renaissance-festival For additional information including safety precautions and frequently asked questions, visit the webpage at: https://www. bayarearenfest.com or call the office 1-800-601-4848 for more information. We can’t wait to Celebrate! Huzzah!
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MAY 2021 9
Tech Talk with Bob: Malware Basics
Malware stands for malicious software. It is designed to break into and possibly harm your computer system, or even your online identity, without you knowing. Malware almost always hides itself. Some will even take control of your computer. There are many different types of malware which includes: viruses, Trojans, logic bombs, adware, spyware, rootkits, worms, etc. These terms can sometimes be confusing. So, let’s discuss a few. Viruses can be difficult to identify. They are sneaky and come in many different forms. A macro virus will exploit applications. When activated, it can cause significant damage and spread itself to other computers. For example, it can send itself as an attachment to all e-mail addresses in your address book. Sometimes a virus can be nothing more than an annoying popup on your computer screen. Other times its malicious code can be extremely dangerous because it can also purposely delete files from your computer’s hard drive. A Trojan is named after the Greek Trojan horse. A Trojan can be innocently mistaken to be an application like a screensaver or a game that you may unknowingly download and run because it looks cool
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or is fun to play. This type of malware is usually a free program you see on a website or is often recommended via email from a well-intentioned friend who is obviously ignorant of the threat it presents. Trojans do not typically harm your computer’s operation. They create a backdoor into your system giving an attacker access and complete remote control of your computer, without you ever knowing. Spyware is any application which sends private information about you without your consent or knowledge. Spyware tracks and reports back to its attacker data about your online digital activities. Information such as which websites you visit and for how long. They can even record your keystrokes to steal your login credentials (username & password). In addition to building a digital profile on you, spyware can steal your entire list of contacts (with all your friends’ & families’ personal information) and serve them up on a silver platter to the attackers, courtesy of an unprotected computer. Creating a malware defense strategy is the first step in protecting yourself. Second, do not rely solely on new out-of-the-box anti-malware software. All anti-malware software needs to have its set-
tings properly configured to provide you with the highest level of protection possible. It is best to have a certified professional configure this software as soon as it is installed. And of course, it is best to install this software before your computer contracts a malware infection. Third, keep the software up to date. Be Safer My Friend. It is your responsibility to protect your personal network, your computer’s operation, and your data. Whether you are a business or nonprofit, even a home user, who keeps records about clients, customers, club-members, prospects, employees, ven-
dors, sales, budgets, inventories, taxes… you get the idea; cyber criminals will exploit any easy, unprotected system. How safe is your system? My staff and I are here to keep your computer safer and keep you up and running. If you question your computer’s safety or performance, please have a professionally certified computer technician check it. Should you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. We Keep You Safer In Your Digital World!
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“Sleep Better Tampa” continued from page 1 Long-term, it affects the endocrine system. You are at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and, for a man, impotence. All of these are directly correlated to sleep apnea. Anything you expect your brain to do, it needs oxygen to do it,” she explained. Issues with the endocrine system also make it harder for people with sleep apnea to lose weight. Dr. Bulnes-Newton said, “They can be dieting, exercising, eating right, and providing their body with all the appropriate nutrients, but if their endocrine system isn’t getting enough oxygen, it’s an uphill battle.” She explained that, as a dentist, she sees the causes of sleep apnea every day. “We also look at anatomy. Are the patients’ tongues taking up a lot of space? Are we having difficulty looking down their airway? Do they have trouble when we lean them back being able to breathe properly? Do they feel like they are choking even if there is no procedure being performed? We see a lot anatomically that there could be something going on,” Dr. BulnesNewton said. Dr. Bulnes-Newton works hand-in-hand with cardiologists, sleep physicians, pulmonary doctors, primary care physicians, and ENTs to create the best treatment
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plan for patients. “I work with the patients that suffer from obstructed sleep apnea who either fail at their CPAP or, for whatever reason, choose not to use it. We’re here for those who seek alternative care to treat their sleep apnea,” she said. “This is a device approved by the FDA as a medically necessary device. This is not something that is run through your dental insurance. We work with all the medical insurances to assure that patient benefits as best possible with their medical insurance companies for this treatment.” An adjunctive therapy for people with snoring or sleep apnea, positional therapy also helps to prevent patients from sleeping on their backs. “When you’re lying on your back, your jaw drops back more, so it cuts off
the airway,” Dr. BulnesNewton explained. She relayed the story of a dental patient who fell asleep and began snoring during a procedure. He knew he was supposed to use a CPAP machine but refused. His breathing issue occurred while he was lying on his back. His doctor told him to sew pockets into the back of a tee shirt and put tennis balls into the pockets, so when turned from his side to his back, he would be alerted to turn back to his side. She recommended that he get the oral therapy device. He agreed. Later, without an appointment, the patient came back to the office, stopped in front of the doctor in the hallway, and dropped down on his knees, exclaiming “You saved my life and you have also saved my marriage.” He was no longer sleeping
in their spare bedroom. Dr. Bulnes-Newton said that similar stories of positive results are plentiful. “Once I heard that I could help out with such a horrible disease, this was definitely a direction that I wanted to learn more about,” she said. Studies show that, before age 50, more men suffer from obstructed sleep apnea than women. At 50 and beyond, the numbers are equal. “We tend to see more men that are noticing
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daytime sleepiness. They want to work better and perform better at the office. They want to have more energy for their families, and they want to stay alive. Let’s be honest, if your brain is not getting oxygen, untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications and a shorter life span.” Dr. BulnesNewton said. “When I treat a patient, I know I’m adding an average of eight years to their life.”
To learn more about the sleep apnea device through Sleep Better Tampa, visit https:// sleepapneasolutionstampa.com/ or call 813-60-SLEEP (75337). Sleep Better Tampa is part of Westchase Esthetic Family Dentistry and is located at 10131 Wilsky Blvd. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM and Friday by appointment only.
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14 MAY 2021
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