Sleep Apnea and Healthy People 2020

 Previously issues around improving sleep in young people and adults were spread across various topics. In the recently released document, sleep health has its own. The first objective listed under this topic:

SH-1      Increase the proportion of persons with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea who seek medical evaluation.

That could be the mission statement of the association.

Now we can point to something that indicates the Federal government is concerned about the number of people with sleep apnea symptoms who aren't seeking medical evaluation.

Satisfactory accomplishment of the objective would to increase the number of persons with symptoms to seek medical evaluation by 2.5% over the course of the next 10 years.

Sounds do-able!

But in order to accomplish this objective we will need increase awareness about sleep apnea - believe it or not, there are still people who don't know what sleep apnea is - why would they; it is something that happens while they are sleeping and the only evidence of the problem could awakening unrefreshed and/or complaints from their bedpartner (if they still have one).

There is a second population that needs increased awareness - primary care medical professionals - family practice physicians, internists, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. Let's include dentists and oral hygenists as well since they see people with symptoms more often than the others.

The ASAA will do its part. Not only making people aware of the negative consequences of not seeking medical evaluation, but, and more importantly, reminding people of the benefits of treatments - the improvement in the quality (not just the quantity) of life.

If you are concerned about undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea in yourself or in someone important to you, contact the the American Sleep Apnea Association or visit the web site - http://www.sleepapnea.org/ - let's get to 3%.

Happy New Year!