The root cause as I see it is quite simply that people don't think sleep is important. We think of it as down time that you do in between useful things. You sleep in the plane to pass time. You grab a quick nap because you're tired so you can go to a meeting. You don't actually screen time out in your schedule to sleep, unless you're lazy.
And we can scream it from the hilltops, but I don't expect anything will change quickly.
I think it would be quite helpful if doctors knew more about OSA, but that's true about so many disorders that it's not even funny. I hope to make a dent in my corner of the world and see what happens.
It would be INCREDIBLY useful if the screening questions involved more than "Do you snore?" I screened myself for this illness, and so many others have done the same.
At Home Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screener Now Available
Somehow I think that intended "dent" translates to any MDs in your own family, Blarg. Good luck, my friend!blarg wrote: I hope to make a dent in my corner of the world and see what happens.
Truer words were never spoken. For most symptoms there seems to be a myriad of known causes or conditions. And to make matters even more challenging, cryptic science seems to also mask an even greater myriad of "unknowns" quite often. Me thinks medical professionals have a daunting task to say the very least. We're lucky the good guys in the white coats, like your dad, are darn smart!blarg wrote: I think it would be quite helpful if doctors knew more about OSA, but that's true about so many disorders that it's not even funny.
Say it again, Brother Blarg! Once again, a direct hit!blarg wrote:The root cause as I see it is quite simply that people don't think sleep is important. We think of it as down time that you do in between useful things. You sleep in the plane to pass time. You grab a quick nap because you're tired so you can go to a meeting. You don't actually screen time out in your schedule to sleep, unless you're lazy.
I hope that it is not considered a breach of board etiquette to quote myself, but here's a post last month that I am still enthusiastic about (lightly edited):
I had a mini brain storm today about how to change public and medical perception to better understand that "sleepy", as cuddly and cute as it can sound, may be a very subtle sign that something more ominous, even deadly, may be brewing.
Sleepy. It sound so innocuous. So dreamy. So, benign. So go have a nap, if you're sleepy. I'll bring your blankie, and maybe some cookies and milk. People seem peaceful when they are getting their refreshing sleep. Just makes me want to layout in a hammock and have a snooze, a siesta. Makes me want to have the luxury of "sleeping in" on the weekend.
Siesta, snooze, a nap. I think Somerset Maughm said that the two most beautiful words in the English language were "summer breeze", but a "good nap" can't be far behind.
Who's worried when you tell them that you're ready for a nap?
If you're sleepy, get more rest.
Maybe you have iron poor blood? Get geritol!
Has your get up and go gotten up and went? Then go get it!
Lots of people will use the word "tired", or "worn out", when a more accurate description might very well be "sleepy". Maybe you're tired because you're a "restless sleeper", a "light sleeper", or you're "depressed". All fairly vague, hard to measure notions.
If you tell a doctor you're tired a lot, it conjures up all sorts of explanantions. However, if you say that you're sleepy, it should (and I believe often does) conjure up something quite significantly different. It may seem subtle, but it is a numbers game and any tipoffs that lead the doctor to understand that your chief complaint is "sleepy" are going to payoff in lives saved. It really is that simple.
We have to be able to bring into the public and medical eye the notion that sleepy may be very fine, but it can also be the ONLY early tipoff to a very deadly disease, a disease that is devastating and often fatal when undetected.
Dead Tired? Maybe you're sleeping with the Enemy.
Know Your Snore Score.
Know Your Snore Score.
It's amazing what we experience with this condition. I specifically was NOT sleepy. That was because I was sleeping 12 hours a day and thought it was "just me." So, when I was talking with my sleep doc, my primary symptom was something akin to N24 where I'd rotate through days and nights, unable to keep a schedule.drbandage wrote:If you tell a doctor you're tired a lot, it conjures up all sorts of explanantions. However, if you say that you're sleepy, it should (and I believe often does) conjure up something quite significantly different.
He noted I should try to keep an 8 hour schedule. I said, "Are you sure we shouldn't aim for something more achievable like a 10 hour schedule?"...."I'd like to recommend a sleep study..."
Re: At Home Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screener Now Available
yes money was spent but atleast it helps you in your very uncomfortable times.,and what s the used of money, good thing is that its for your health.Guest wrote:
In the end there is no difference other than money spent.
..>>thankz for these.,its our assignment,"The final score represents five possible test outcomes based on sleep apnea severity level:
0 - no apnea: comparable to a sleep lab AHI of less than 14
1 – Mild: comparable to a sleep lab AHI between 15 and 24
2 – Moderate: comparable to a sleep lab AHI between 25 and 39
3 – Severe: comparable to a sleep lab AHI of more than 40
E – Error in measurement"
Re: At Home Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screener Now Available
I agree with restedgal. My first sleep study although miserable only resulted in an ahi of 14 and DSAT of 89, but I had it and immediately improved on apap.
Re: At Home Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screener Now Available
Too bad you need a clear nose for it to work. Is there a version that will work for mouth breathers?
_________________
| Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
| Additional Comments: Software: SleepyHead 0.9 beta |
Download Sleepyhead here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/