I wanted to take a step back and thank all of the listeners of Sleep Apnea Pathfinders. This seasons episodes have been heard in 7 different countries and 37 cities in the U.S. It reminds me that sleep apnea is a worldwide issue and many of us are searching for information which is empowering and actionable.
In this episode, I talk about some of the important issues I covered in the first few episodes. One issue is the usage of 2 different scoring rules by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for oxygen desaturation when scoring hypopneas. Those are partial closures of our throats. When 4% is used, it is less likely hypopneas will be counted in the Apnea Hypopnea Index. For some people, it may mean that they will technically be diagnosed with primary snoring and not sleep apnea. This is especially problematic for women, who research is indicating that hypopneas are more prevalent in women. I plan to do a more in-depth episode on this issue as it also generally undercounts sleep breathing events for both men and women.
The other episode I'd like to highlight is the episode on Atrial Fibrillation and sleep apnea. My guest was Melanie True Hills, who is the CEO of STOPAFIB.org. She shared her sleep apnea and AFIB story and educated us on her mission to help people identify and manage AFIB. She shared that those who experience a procedure called cardio ablation and cardioversion whose treatment is unsuccessful are likely to have sleep apnea.
We will delve into cardiovascular conditions more. The host of conditions which comprise cardiovascular disease have a high rate of occurrence with sleep apnea. While you may not have any of these conditions, it is important to discuss these issues in hopes that it reaches someone who is experiences these issues. Ideally, the younger someone who meets the signs and symptoms is diagnosed the better for their long-term health.
I discuss my interview with John, a sleep apnea patient who has a BMI of 24 which is normal for his height and weight. He is a thin person and despite signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, it was unlikely his doctor would refer him for a sleep study. This interview points out that sleep apnea is not about weight for all individuals. Many people with normal BMI have sleep apnea and they too may believe the myth that its only for overweight people.
We plan to continue to interview various individuals with sleep apnea as well as their partners.