How Serious is Sleep Apnea

Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry

So, let’s talk about sleep apnea—its seriousness and why we must stop overlooking it like it’s not a health issue that deserves our attention…

Ever wondered how something as common as snoring could be a sign of a serious health concern?

Contrary to what many people think, snoring—even when someone’s makes it so hard for you to sleep—is not merely a harmless annoyance. In some cases, it indicates sleep apnea—a condition that often gets brushed off but can have severe health implications if left untreated.

It can get as serious to the point that you’ll need a pacemaker, as the risk of sudden death is through the roof each time you go for some sleep.

However, unfortunately, many people still don’t recognize the gravity sleep apnea brings with it.

That’s why in this episode, we’ll discuss sleep apnea, some symptoms to watch for, and the profound impact it can have both on your life and health. I’ll share personal experiences and a patient’s story to highlight the importance of diagnosis and treatment. We’ll also talk about the types of sleep apnea and possible treatment options, such as the one I’m using—the CPAP machine.

So, whether you’re just curious about sleep apnea or you suspect it might be affecting you or a loved one, check out this episode, and together, let’s raise awareness about this often misunderstood disease.

Why you need to check this episode:

- Get an overview of what sleep apnea is and how serious it can get; - Understand how sleep apnea can silently wreak havoc on your health and affect numerous systems of your body if left untreated; - Recognize the importance of seeing sleep apnea as a serious health concern, way beyond just snoring; and - Hear personal anecdotes and a patient’s story that could help convince you to take action for better health

“That's just an overview of what sleep apnea [is] and the importance of understanding [that] this is a serious disease. When we think about sleep apnea, you should be just as concerned if you're thinking about heart disease…[and] diabetes. I want us to kind of elevate the status of sleep apnea, because I think a lot of times it gets brushed to the side and felt as not as significant, especially clinically. And I want to tell you—that is 100% not the case. You need to get this taken care of, especially if you're concerned about it.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

Notable Quotes:

“It's been a conversation that needs to be talked about because it is one of these diseases that really gets overlooked because we're always thinking about high blood pressure…about diabetes…about obesity…[and] about all these other things here. But a lot of times, if you don't treat the central reason why you're having these problems, you can't deal with anything else.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

“Untreated sleep apnea will make it more difficult for you and your doctor to take care of your blood pressure…of your weight…of your diabetes, and a slew of other disease process that really can't get fixed if [we] don't deal with the sleep apnea. It’s not just [a] disease that's make you snore a lot; it's not a disease that makes it so that people can't sleep next to you, no. This disease has significant effects, especially when left untreated.” – Dr. Berry Pierre

Mentions:

• Blog post about sleep apnea
• Understanding Sleep Apnea: Health Risks of this Common Sleep Disorder
• Some of our previous episodes about sleep apnea
• Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry Episode 15 Sleep Apnea
• How many ways to spot sleep apnea with Dr. Berry Pierre
• Questionnaires
• STOP-BANG
• Berlin

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