Project Sleep is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new live event series: Sleep Apnea Squad! The series will cover a wide variety of topics to help people navigate life with sleep apnea. Hosted by Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Program Manager, Emma Cooksey, each live event invites fellow members of the #SleepApneaSquad to explore various aspects of living with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a chronic health condition where people repeatedly stop breathing during sleep, affecting up to 25% of adults in the US. The difficulty breathing during sleep could be caused by the airway closing (obstructive sleep apnea) or, less commonly, by the brain not sending the signal to breathe (central sleep apnea). Sleep apnea keeps people from falling into the deep sleep that the body needs, and puts a strain on long-term health.
“According to the American Medical Association, about 30 million people in the United States have sleep apnea, but only 6 million are diagnosed,” said Julie Flygare, JD, President & CEO of Project Sleep. “This is why Project Sleep is taking action to help address this major public health gap so that more people get the information and support they need and deserve.”
“As someone who went undiagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea for more than a decade, I know how lonely and confusing this journey can be,” added Emma Cooksey. “I cannot wait to work with leading clinicians and patient advocates via the Sleep Apnea Squad series to foster an incredible and diverse community of empowered sleep apnea advocates across America and around the world.”
Each topic of the Sleep Apnea Squad series will be addressed first in a live broadcast on Project Sleep’s YouTube channel, followed by a PDF toolkit, podcast, and social media shareables.
