Open AirWaves Episode 2: Integrative Care in Dental Sleep Medicine-Open AirWaves Episode 2 (Video)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this episode of Open Airways, Dr. Vicki Cohn hosts Dr. Nadia Afzal, a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine, and Dr. Shehzad Malik, a cardiologist. They delve into an integrated approach to treating sleep disorders and their impact on overall health. Dr. Afzal discusses how her interest began almost by chance at a symposium that introduced her to the significant role airway plays in health, igniting her passion for patient-centered integrative care models. She now uses a mix of therapies like myofunctional therapy and tongue-tie release, tailored to each patient’s needs.<br /><br />Dr. Malik complements this by highlighting the interconnectedness of good sleep with cardiac health. He explains that his perspective on cardiology radically changed upon understanding these links. He advocates addressing sleep apnea proactively, even within cardiological assessments, emphasizing collaborative care.<br /><br />They discuss pivotal patient cases showing improvements in conditions like atrial fibrillation after addressing sleep apnea. Their integrated methodology has had notable success, yielding positive patient outcomes and satisfaction. For new practitioners, they suggest fostering open communication with other healthcare providers and committing to continuous learning, respecting each patient's unique needs and financial constraints. This episode underlines the critical importance of integrative, personalized care in improving sleep health and, consequently, overall health outcomes.

Keywords

Open Airways

Dr. Vicki Cohn

Dr. Nadia Afzal

dental sleep medicine

Dr. Shehzad Malik

cardiology

integrated approach

sleep disorders

myofunctional therapy

tongue-tie release

sleep apnea

patient-centered care

collaborative care