Question about Sleep Apnea

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

I've heard it's a rather common problem with minimal consequences from family and relatives. How many times have you known you've had what you consider a small health problem but have never gone to the doctor over it?

OSA is found in 4% of males and 2% of females. I wouldn't call that common. It is also found more commonly among Blacks and Hispanics.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

I've heard it's a rather common problem with minimal consequences from family and relatives. How many times have you known you've had what you consider a small health problem but have never gone to the doctor over it?

It depends. Are these family members doctors? If one of my doctor family members told me it's not a big deal, then, assuming I trusted them (which, despite them being family, is not always the case), I might accept that. Though probably I would still do at least a mild bit of research.

If it's just people with no expertise, I would certainly at the least look the condition up. It's not a good sign if the first page of google hits have summaries with words like "potentially life-threatening" and "serious health problems".

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

I've heard it's a rather common problem with minimal consequences from family and relatives. How many times have you known you've had what you consider a small health problem but have never gone to the doctor over it?

It depends. Are these family members doctors? If one of my doctor family members told me it's not a big deal, then, assuming I trusted them (which, despite them being family, is not always the case), I might accept that. Though probably I would still do at least a mild bit of research.

If it's just people with no expertise, I would certainly at the least look the condition up. It's not a good sign if the first page of google hits have summaries with words like "potentially life-threatening" and "serious health problems".

It has run in the family on my fathers side, who have experience with it, so I trusted their advice. Whether they've just been lucky or what, none of them have died from the listed effects of sleep apnea.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: BigJ
It has run in the family on my fathers side, who have experience with it, so I trusted their advice. Whether they've just been lucky or what, none of them have died from the listed effects of sleep apnea.

I hope none of them are doctors. How do you know that they haven't died from what amounts to any number of life threatening heart conditions? Sounds like you need to give your family a little lecture on health.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
It has run in the family on my fathers side, who have experience with it, so I trusted their advice. Whether they've just been lucky or what, none of them have died from the listed effects of sleep apnea.

I hope none of them are doctors. How do you know that they haven't died from what amounts to any number of life threatening heart conditions? Sounds like you need to give your family a little lecture on health.

Well when the causes of death read off as:

Cirrhosis
Cancer
Car Accident
etc.

Sleep apnea usually doesn't contribute to those. They have gone to doctors before that have told them it's something that you should know you have, but that it's nothing to sweat over. I guess I'll be getting it checked out over winter break.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: BigJ
What's so dangerous about sleep apnea? I'm 99% sure I have it (my parents and friends have told me I stop breathing in my sleep) but I've never paid any attention to it.

This is the dumbest thing I've heard in weeks, unless you can clarify. Do you really mean to say that you have been told that you stop breathing in your sleep and decided to just ignore it? Is that how you handle all medical problems in your life? Ignore them as long as they don't kill you?

I've heard it's a rather common problem with minimal consequences from family and relatives. How many times have you known you've had what you consider a small health problem but have never gone to the doctor over it?

OSA is found in 4% of males and 2% of females. I wouldn't call that common. It is also found more commonly among Blacks and Hispanics.

I would disagree with those numbers. usually midlle aged white males are the typical case, but I feel that they say white because smaller numbers of minorites seek medical help for less know problems.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I would disagree with those numbers. usually midlle aged white males are the typical case, but I feel that they say white because smaller numbers of minorites seek medical help for less know problems.

You might want to take up your disagreement with Dr. Steffan, and the 5 doctors who edited his report. Though you are right, it is most commonly recognized in middle-age individuals.

 

[Papagayo]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
My 1 1/2 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. The doctor won't discuss the issue with me until next week when we have our next appointment, but maybe someone here can answer my question.

There's a chance my job will be moving to Denver this coming spring. I had planned on going... But will the high altitude aggrivate her apnea? I mean if she's not getting enough oxygen here near sea level, will it be worse at a couple thousand feet?

Poor girl.. I feel for her, because I have mild case of sleep apnea..


I hope she does well...