XL01: How breastfeeding can reduce the risk of disruptive OSA

Lecturer: Dr Brian Palmer
L-CERPS: 1.25
Cost: US$18.75
Access period: One week
Lecture recorded: July 2008, for this series
Synopsis: The physical act of breastfeeding promotes an optimal airway and palate arch size for the protection against sleep apnoea and airway obstruction in children and adults.
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Lecture Details: The nutritional, immunological, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding have been understood for years, but the importance of the physical act of breastfeeding itself has not been very well appreciated. In this presentation, Dr. Palmer will cover the importance of the latch and the physical act of breastfeeding from an oral cavity, airway and facial development perspective. Using illustrations of both fetus and adult cadaver dissections, it will be demonstrated how mammals are uniquely born to naturally breastfeed but also why the human airway is different from all other mammals. The importance of breastfeeding as a possible way to reduce the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) will also be discussed. Also discussed will be how bottle-feeding and infant habits can be major contributing factors for the collapse of the oral cavity, airway and facial form. Why breastfed babies have a better chance of being prettier and smarter than bottle-fed babies will also be discussed.

About Dr Palmer: After graduating as a dentist in 1970, Dr. Palmer practiced family dentistry in Kansas City for 35 years. During that time he did extensive self-funded research on the importance of the act of breastfeeding as it relates to total health and how it can possibly reduce the risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), SIDS, otitis media, bedwetting, hyperactivity and long face syndrome. Dr Palmer retired in 2005 so that he could have more time to share his research. He now gives national and international presentation on the importance of breastfeeding for total health, infant caries, otitis media, SIDS and the consequences of having tight frenums/frenulums and digit sucking. He has given presentations on his research at the International level for the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), the International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA), and La Leche League International (LLLI). He is a member of the Health Advisory Council for La Leche League International. Most of the presentations he has given and the articles he has written are available on his website at www.brianpalmerdds.com