Strained Relationships and Financial Burden: Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea Hurts Us Where It Counts

Sleep Apnea Pathfinders

What many people may not realize is sleep apnea may fly under the radar for years or even decades. There are two consequences which have a lasting effect on our quality of life. One consequence of undiagnosed sleep apnea, is relationships between bed partners can become strained due to repeated observations being ignored. The other consequence is medical debt can accrue as someone experiences medical issues as a result of emerging health issues (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease), etc.) which share a close relationship with sleep apnea.

We discussed in a previous episode, how common signs (snoring, gasping, choking, etc.) are those which cannot be observed by the individual. They rely on a bed partner or an individual recording these signs to understand the frequency and intensity. You may ask yourself how this seemingly minor issue has grown to be a major point of contention and strained the relationship. There may even be a need to move into a separate bedroom! We discuss on this episode, how those concerns turn into fears and lead to a disconnect. We also discuss from the patient’s perspective, how this dynamic may be invisible and difficult to take stock of what was lost.

Another area which many people face is the hidden financial cost in the form of unintended use of sick days as a way to deal with unrelenting fatigue caused by untreated sleep apnea. These sick days can be frequent and may result in lost wages and opportunities. For industries where employees don’t have many sick days, or their company’s policy is strict, they may experience issues with continued employment. For many other people who have undiagnosed sleep apnea and go on to use sick days, they may miss opportunities for advancement. There are times where employees are given new projects which may lead to more visibility with executive management. Those new projects could also lead to consideration for advancement in their careers. Those who need to over utilize sick days may be passed over for consideration for new assignments.

Join Juanita and David as they bring awareness to these issues and also connect with them on Instagram @SleepApneaPathfinders.