Long Naps, Micro-sleeping, Sleep Debt, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Ingredients for Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Pathfinders

This episode discusses from a social lens, some of the key ingredients of sleep apnea. One thing that jumps out to other and maybe not the person for who it's happening, is that napping becomes a constant goal. The other event which most are unaware that could be an indication of a larger sleep disorder is micro-sleeping or micro naps where a person is essentially asleep for seconds. A third area discussed in this podcast is sleep debt and how that starts to develop as a result of unrefreshing sleep. And the last area discussed is the excessive daytime sleepiness which tremendously impacts our leisure time activities, work performance, and relationships.
We ask the listener to take each perspective in and consider for themselves how untreated or undertreated sleep apnea shows up in their lives. It could be from the perspective of someone who suspects they may have sleep apnea. Or a loved one (spouse/partner/family member) who has observed some signs of breathing irregularities at night which sound like choking or gasping. Another perspective is that of a healthcare professional outside of sleep medicine who is treating a patient and they are seeking to elevate their knowledge of sleep apnea.
The structure of this podcast will address sleep apnea from a number of different lenses. The first week looks through the social lens of how sleep apnea impacts lives. In the second week, we will discuss how sleep apnea and related other medical illnesses show up. In the third week, we will discuss sleep apnea through an emotional lens and examine how mental health issues are related. And the final week, we will pick up on issues that range from awareness, signs/symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and finally adjustment.
We are going to give adjustment a shout-out now because it is one of the most vital areas to discuss after awareness, signs/symptoms, and diagnosis. We are using the term adjustment to replace the term compliance or adherence! Adopting a treatment for sleep apnea is a tremendous lifestyle change and it can not be summed up with compliance/noncompliance or adherence/nonadherence.
One of the goals of this entire podcast is to peel back the layers of sleep apnea and show the many dimensions that are impacted across a person's life. Those dimensions come with their own complications, challenges, goals, and objectives. What is needed most of all through the adjustment to treatment is support, information, and encouragement.
Today's episode breaks down some of the ingredients of sleep apnea and how it impacts a persons life from a social perspective

• Napping that interferes with sleep time
• Microsleeping that strains relationships hampers leisure, and work
• Sleep debt wears on a persons quality of life
• Untreated sleep apnea