Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disease that can attack anyone – even a doctor. As Chief Health Editor for ABC 7 news in Detroit, Dr. Partha Nandi often shares important health advice with viewers. During a recent broadcast, he told his personal story of living with sleep apnea.
A few years ago a family member told him that he stopped breathing multiple times during the night. He went to his doctor and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
As a medical professional, Dr. Nandi was familiar with the dangers of untreated sleep apnea. It increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke.
As a husband and father, he knew that treating his sleep apnea was critical. So now he wears a CPAP mask every night as he sleeps.
“I am living with sleep apnea, and I really feel this device has changed my life,” he said while wearing his CPAP mask on camera.
To show viewers how easy it is to be tested for sleep apnea, Dr. Nandi went back to a sleep center. An in-lab sleep study at a sleep center is a common method of detecting sleep apnea. A sleep study provides the most complete evaluation of your sleep.
Another option is a home sleep apnea test. It allows you to sleep at home wearing equipment that collects data about how you breathe during sleep. A home sleep apnea test works best for adults who have a high risk of sleep apnea.
Dr. Nandi took a home sleep apnea testing device to his house to see how it works. Following the instructions, he hooked up the device himself and slept in his own bed.
The results showed that he had 2,400 snoring events and stopped breathing about 29 times an hour. This added up to more than 200 breathing pauses during a full night of sleep. As a result, his oxygen levels dropped down to about 72 percent.
After seeing these eye-opening numbers, Dr. Nandi urged viewers to get help for treating sleep apnea.
“If you’ve been snoring for a long time, don’t ignore it,” he said. “Get tested to see if you have sleep apnea.”
He also reminded people who have sleep apnea to use their treatment every night.
“If you have sleep apnea, please use your mask,” he urged. “This mask makes a world of difference. If I can do it, you can do it too!”
