The new national “More than a Snore” campaign raises awareness of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious, but treatable, condition that causes you to stop breathing during sleep.
“This campaign will raise national awareness of obstructive sleep apnea and encourage undiagnosed patients to advocate for themselves and seek treatment.”
– Jennifer Martin, a licensed clinical psychologist and president of the AASM
Obstructive sleep apnea affects nearly 30 million adults in the U.S. Approximately 80% of these cases are undiagnosed, costing the U.S. more than $149 billion annually in health care costs, lost work productivity, and workplace and motor vehicle accidents.
This campaign explains that untreated sleep apnea is “More than a Snore.” It affects your long-term health and quality of life. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of other health problems such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and depression.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring and gasping for air during sleep. If you feel tired or unrefreshed after waking up even though you have had a full night of sleep, it may be due to sleep apnea.
Think you might have sleep apnea? If you have common symptoms, talk to your doctor to find out if testing and treatment are necessary.
There are several treatments for sleep apnea, including CPAP therapy, which uses mild levels of air pressure, provided through a mask, to keep the throat open during sleep. Oral appliances, weight loss, surgery, and positional therapy also can be options for treatment.
To learn more about sleep apnea and get resources to talk to your doctor about your sleep, visit www.countonsleep.org.
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The “More than a Snore” campaign is a collaborative project funded through a grant awarded to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. For a complete list of partnering organizations, click here.
