Survey: Americans mostly unaware of sleep apnea
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:14 AM CDT, Thu June 10, 2021
DARIEN, Ill. – Nearly 70% of Americans who sleep with a bed partner report those partners snore while sleeping, according to a 2021 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
Snoring can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea and AASM is asking Americans to consider, “Is it more than a snore?”
“While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is a warning sign that should be taken seriously,” said Dr. Kannan Ramar, AASM president. “If your bed partner snores, or if you’ve been told that you snore, then it is important to talk to a medical provider about screening or testing for sleep apnea. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can improve overall health and quality of life.”
Nearly 30 million U.S. adults have obstructive sleep apnea, with about 23.5 million of those cases still undiagnosed, according to AASM.
In the same survey, a quarter of Americans (26%) admitted they were not at all familiar with OSA, and nearly half (48%) acknowledged they do not know the symptoms of the disease.
Comments