Healthy Lifestyle

RESEARCH has shown that some of the electrolyte-rich sports drinks consumed by athletes contain the right balance of nutrients and minerals to keep the energy level from flagging.

But a study published in the January/February issue of General Dentistry showed that sipping certain sports drinks over long periods can wear down the tooth enamel.

There have not been a lot of studies on the subject. A study published in 2002 showed that there was no link between dental erosion and the consumption of sports drinks. However, here is how scientists
at the University of Maryland Dental School arrived at their findings.

Researchers led by Dr J Anthony von Fraunhofer, professor of biomaterials science, used cavity-free teeth extracted for orthodontic or periodontal reasons. The teeth were sterilised and the enamel walls
were cut into blocks. These blocks were soaked in screw-cap plastic containers filled with one of several beverages, including sports drinks, soda, energy drinks, iced tea and other sweetened drinks.

Researchers weighed the enamel blocks at 24- to 48-hour intervals for 14 days, measuring for weight loss. The exposure time of two weeks was comparable to about 13 years of normal beverage consumption.

They found that enamel dissolution was significant for some sports drinks. Dr von Fraunhofer said additives and organic acids can break down calcium and erode enamel.

The researchers say that their study may be criticised for the long exposure time and small sample size, because in reality, athletes sip drinks for several hours, not for 14 straight days.

Dr von Fraunhofer said athletes should drink the liquid quickly and not let it remain in the mouth. They should alternate the drink with sips of water to wash down caustic acids.

Snoring is no joke, it can signal some serious health problems

IN HIS younger days, Chen Zhao Hong avoided chalet stays, slumber parties and over-night outings to the beach — nocturnal activities many of his friends enjoyed.

“My friends invited me, but I tried not to stay overnight. I didn’t want to be embarrassed,” said Mr Chen.

Mr Chen snores loudly. As a result, he has been at the receiving end of many a jibe.

SNORING – NOT A NATURAL OCCURRENCE

While many of us think that snoring is quite natural, this is a misconception, said Dr Peter Kenny Pang, associate consultant with the department of Otorhinolaryngology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

According to Dr Pang, snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, a common sleep disorder that may cause complications if left untreated. Some complications that arise from OSA include
hypertension, coronary arterial disease, strokes and even heart attacks.

For Mr Chen, however, OSA carries an even greater risk – death. He often nods off while driving.

“Sometimes, when I fall asleep, my girlfriend wakes me up and engages me in conversation to prevent me from dozing off again,” he said.

Despite having adequate sleep, Mr Chen feels exhausted during the day.

The tiredness he feels is a manifestation of OSA. Sufferers of OSA also experience mood changes, irritability, lack of concentration and poor memory.

WEIGHT LOSS AND SURGERY

Mr Chen consulted a doctor to treat his snoring problem when he was 11, but declined treatment at the time. His condition gradually worsened.

During his first few months in National Service (NS), his fellow soldiers had to get used to his loud snoring.

“They told me that I was disturbing them. But I did not have a choice because the snoring is not something I can control.

They noticed that I gasped for air and sometimes choked during the night, and advised me to seek medical attention,” he said.

A few months into his NS stint, Mr Chen suffered an asthma attack, even though he had no history of such attacks.

The medical officer in his army unit referred him to a specialist. It was then that he learned he had severe OSA. The doctor recommended surgery.

Since OSA is closely linked to obesity, Mr Chen refused surgery and tried to lose weight instead. He was 126kg and lost 8kg. Unfortunately, the weight loss did not alleviate his condition.

Said Mr Chen: “The doctor asked me why I did not want to undergo surgery. I confessed to him my fears of invasive procedures and he advised me to go ahead with it anyway.”

Mr Chen overcame his phobia and went for an operation.

SHORT RECOVERY PERIOD AFTER SURGERY

The surgical procedure is directed at the level of obstruction in the upper airways.

The operation takes approximately two hours and Mr Chen was given general anaesthesia.

There were no side effects, he said, except for some pain in his throat. The recovery period was relatively short, too. He was discharged after three days and the pain subsided in two weeks.

It seems that the surgery was well worth it. Mr Chen said that since the operation, his social life has changed for the better.

“I don’t fall asleep while driving during the day and I feel a lot more confident about myself now,” he said.

SLEEP SOUNDLY

OSA treatment always begins with a modification to your lifestyle.

• Lose weight: OSA is linked to obesity.
• Avoid stimulants: Nicotine, alcohol, sedatives and caffeine should be avoided, since they
  can be stimulatory and affect sleep.
• Adopt a regular sleep pattern: Regular sleep patterns means having fixed sleeping and waking times, avoiding naps and not reading or watching television in bed.
• Diet: Avoid spicy food as it can aggravate reflux and cause discomfort such as heart-burn.
  This condition can worsen OSA.
• Sleeping position: Sleep on your side or on your stomach. Sleeping on the back is not recommended, as it will cause the tongue to fall back and obstruct the airway.

OSA is estimated to affect 24 per cent of men and 9 per cent of women. “However, many medical writers who investigate OSA believe that up to 93 per cent of women and 82 per cent of men suffer from OSA but
remain undiagnosed,” said Dr Pang.