A major story about King Charles’ sleep apnea diagnosis recently emerged in the U.K., though it went largely unreported in the U.S. In a new book, The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, author Robert Jobson discusses King Charles’ diagnosis with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and his treatment with a CPAP machine.
This book marks the first time King Charles’ diagnosis with OSA has been discussed publicly in the media and marks a significant boost for the visibility of people living with sleep apnea. With every famous person diagnosed with sleep apnea, more light is shed on the condition and the importance of testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing. When these breathing disturbances happen multiple times all night, it not only negatively impacts sleep quality in the short term but also results in longer-term health consequences like a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
OSA is surprisingly common and was estimated to affect over 80 million adults in the US in a recent study. Of those, around 80% of cases are still going undiagnosed owing mainly to a lack of awareness among the general public and even medical professionals who don’t specialize in sleep. To learn more about OSA and the symptoms to look for in yourself or a loved one, check out Could I Have Sleep Apnea?
The Mirror, a British tabloid newspaper that ran the story about King Charles, chose the title “King Charles’ hidden health battle ‘forces him to sleep in separate rooms from Camilla.’” In selecting this dramatic title, they put focus on the fact that Charles has sometimes slept separately from his wife, Camilla. However, the body of the article told a different story. In an excerpt from the book, Jobson wrote about King Charles’ use of a CPAP machine to treat his sleep apnea:
He now swears by the device that delivers steady air pressure to keep airways open, preventing disruptions. Although it does mean that Charles and Camilla sometimes sleep apart.”
Jobson describes how King Charles has adapted well to CPAP therapy, saying, “Charles’s life and energy levels improved dramatically after he started using a CPAP machine, introduced to him by former US Vice President Al Gore when he hosted him at Highgrove, to treat the condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, causing fatigue and poor concentration.”
The power of celebrities discussing their diagnosis and treatment for OSA cannot be underestimated. When Amy Poehler and Jack Black recently discussed they both use a CPAP machine for their OSA, social media comment sections overflowed with praise and gratitude from fellow CPAP users who felt less alone. Emma Cooksey, Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Program Manager, explains:
There is significant shame and stigma associated with obstructive sleep apnea, and the CPAP machines often prescribed to keep the airways open at night. Seeing celebrities like King Charles with the same diagnosis and using the same treatment option as I am makes me feel less alone in my own journey.”
– Emma Cooksey, Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Program Manager
Whether or not King Charles sleeps apart from his wife, it is so encouraging to hear that he is adapting well to treatment and feeling better. At Project Sleep, we have developed free resources as part of our Sleep Apnea Squad program to help people navigate their journey with sleep apnea more easily. If you or someone you know has sleep apnea and is in need of support, join the squad to learn more and get helpful resources!
