Breathless: A Medical Mystery of the Hidden Epidemic

by Maria Sokolina

Olga loves her family deeply. When she notices her husband’s decline and her daughter’s unexplained symptoms, she begins to suspect that they are ensnared in a generational cycle. What she uncovers is a hidden web of causes, intricately woven from threads of sleep, genetics, and modern life.

Dr. Maria Sokolina’s story unfolds alongside Olga’s. An immigrant dentist, she believes she is helping people. She creates beautiful smiles, relieves pain, and restores confidence. But years of observation reveal a deeper truth. Her patients’ broken teeth, jaw pain, and exhaustion are signs of a far more dangerous struggle.

Many were fighting to breathe at night, and that silent battle was reshaping their health, relationships, and lives. Dr. Sokolina confronts a moral dilemma. Is fixing teeth enough when she witnesses the real threat, patient after patient, and remains silent?

Breathless is a medical mystery and an intimate family drama that uncovers the silent epidemic of sleep disordered breathing and the tragic cost of ignoring it. This is a story about love under pressure, bodies fighting for air, and the courage it takes to break a cycle before it becomes destiny.

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2026

About the author

Dr. Maria Sokolina is a dentist focused on the relationship between sleep, breathing, and whole-body health. Trained first in the dental department of medical school in Russia and later at NYU, she brings a rare dual perspective shaped by both medicine and lived human experience.
As a board certified specialist in Dental Sleep Medicine, a personal loss to untreated sleep apnea transformed her clinical observations into a mission to address a hidden medical crisis affecting health and relationships.
A Russian immigrant, she is the founder of Harmony Dental Arts. Her work has appeared in Forbes, AARP, and professional publications. She lives in New Jersey with her family and their Boston terrier, Saige

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually an introspective book will take you on a journey of the mind, body, and soul. This book went beyond that and demonstrated the interconnectedness of the mind and body to the inner workings of the mouth. I have learned so much about dentistry, the medical connections within the dental realm, and about myself as a whole person through this book. Maria cleverly weaves a gripping tale that is so relatable it could be me or you..is it? She explores the many ways the mouth affects our entire body network and functions and how often that significant piece of the puzzle is overlooked. My outlook on dentistry has grown into a sense of wonder regarding its intricacies and the next time I sit in the dentist's chair, this book and its inspirational story and teachings will be front and center in my mind. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about the "roots" of your wellness. Perhaps I will recommend this book to my dentist to serve as an inspiration and reminder of how critical his/her role is in the medical world.

[Mariia Stepanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Sokolina’s “Breathless” is a truly insightful and beautifully written book. The way Maria explains the importance of breathing and the impact that breath problems can have on a person’s health, confidence, and everyday life is both clear and deeply engaging. As a dentist, I find this book especially valuable because it helps me communicate with my patients more effectively and explain why paying attention to their breathing issues is so important.
Maria’s writing makes a complex topic understandable and meaningful. She shows that breathing is not just a physical process but something that influences our overall well-being and quality of life. This book gives me new perspectives and useful ways to help my patients recognize the importance of addressing breath-related problems.
Thank you, Maria, for creating such an informative and inspiring book. Your work has a real impact and helps professionals like me support our patients better.

[Alina Matveets]

As a dentist and osteopath, I read Breathless with great interest. Dr. Maria Sokolina has skillfully combined an engaging story with important insights into sleep-disordered breathing and its impact on human health.

What is especially valuable is the way the book highlights the connection between breathing, posture, craniofacial development, and overall well-being. Through the stories of its characters and a compelling medical investigation, the author draws attention to a problem that often goes unnoticed by both patients and healthcare professionals.

I highly recommend this book to physicians, dentists, rehabilitation specialists, and anyone who wants to better understand the influence of sleep and breathing on quality of life and health.

[Michelle Smeby · Rating 5 out of 5]

💔 "Breathless" is a masterpiece of empathy. Dr. Maria Sokolina transforms a clinical topic into a deeply moving family drama that left me breathless myself.
The story dives deep into the emotional exhaustion of caregiving, the silent struggles of immigrant families, and the terrifying reality of sleep apnea. It captures the exact moment love turns into fear as you watch someone you cherish fade away right in front of you.
More than anything, this book is an emotional lifeline. It offers hope and answers to anyone who has ever felt helpless in the dark, watching a loved one struggle just to take their next breath. A beautiful, vital, and life-changing read.

[NASEER RANA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Maria has produced a fantastic synthesis of Dentistry, her experience, and other training. She has woven her messages superbly into a fictional story that feels very real and resonates with the struggles of many people with sleep disorders and their more serious underlying causes. Narrated in a very interesting and compelling way. A must-read for people dealing with this problem and those helping others through it.

[Dave Federici · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! Just as much an enlightening read for laypeople besides health care providers. It really should be mandatory reading for all as it illuminates so many common health issues people suffer from but do not realize/address. Maria’s colorful and in depth portrayal of a wife’s struggles with her husband and daughter’s health conditions brings together so much that everyone should both know and act on.

[Margarita S · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Holistic psychotherapist myself, who deeply values the mind body connection, I found Breathless: A Medical Mystery of the Hidden Epidemic by Maria Sokolina to be a fascinating and thought-provoking read. It offers valuable insights into the complexity of chronic illness and encourages looking beyond conventional explanations. Whether you're a healthcare professional or someone navigating chronic health challenges, I highly recommend adding it to your reading list.

[Dina Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

.Dr. Maria Sokolina makes complex medical concepts accessible through engaging storytelling, leaving readers with a new appreciation for the importance of healthy breathing and sleep.
"Breathless" is both engaging and informative, encouraging readers to look beyond symptoms and consider the bigger picture of their health.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Sokolina weaves a tale of how a family is impacted by poor breathing. It takes only one person to affect everyone in ways that are often unrecognized. Maria presents the medical information in accessible ways so anyone whose life includes a poor breather can be hopeful that their life will be better

[Marsha Goldenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic piece!
A passionate and detailed journey into the underlying causes of the sleep- deprivation pandemic. Enriched will real- life stories that author brings to light - makes reading this book a deeply personal experience.
Any dental and medical school would benefit from Adding this book with its testimonials to the schools curriculum.

[Olga Damansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is an absolutely fascinating blend of medical mystery and storytelling. It manages to be incredibly educational without ever feeling dry—in fact, I couldn't stop reading it! If you want a book that expands your mind while keeping you on the edge of your seat, this is it.

[Lenore Riegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story, Great Science . . . A Great Read

You will love these people, you will love their stories, and reading this novel will make you a better person. I’ve never said that about any other book, because there’s never been a book exactly like this one.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story that stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

[Eugenia Glushanok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, two of my interests are combined- medicine and family drama!

[Jay Fey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting information. I had never thought about that before. Very useful.

[Renata · Rating 5 out of 5]

What struck me most is how clearly everything is explained. No complicated medical jargon, just real stories about what happens when no one connects the dots.