Father's Day is tomorrow! We at the Sleep Better, Live Better blog hope you get a chance to spend time with your father and let him know just how much you love and appreciate him. 

One way you can appreciate your dad for all the years he spent raising and supporting you is by giving him a gift that will protect his good health for many years to come. Unfortunately, middle-aged or older men are at increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that results in poor sleep and serious physical health consequences. By talking to your father about having a sleep study, you could be increasing his energy, bettering his sleep quality, improving his quality of life, and elongating his life. 

Now that's a real Father's Day gift. 

Why Dad Could be at Risk

Middle aged men are the most common group at risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). About 1 in 25 men has this sleep disorder¹. 

Even more alarmingly, 80% of sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed². That means it's all too likely that if your father has sleep apnea, he doesn't know about it. 

The Benefits of a Sleep Study 

A sleep study, either an in-center overnight sleep study or a home sleep test, can determine definitively if your father has a sleep disorder. A sleep apnea diagnosis means that treatment for the disorder can begin. PAP therapy to cure OSA is virtually 100% effective at curing the sleep disorder. The benefits of diagnosing and treating sleep apnea include: 

• Better sleep quality
• Increased attention, concentration, and memory
• More energy during the day 
• Reduced risk of accidents
• Decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and other health conditions
• Increased life expectancy. 

And if the test comes back negative, you can sleep better knowing that your father is healthy and safe. 

How to Talk to Your Dad about Sleep Apnea

Talk to your dad about the symptoms of sleep apnea, which include: 

• Excessive sleepines during the day
• Decrease in attention, energy, memory, and concentration
• Irritability/moodiness
• Poor sleep
• Snoring, choking, or gasping sounds at night
• Stopping breathing while asleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache. 

If he is experiencing these symptoms, he should be tested for a sleep disorder.

This Father's Day, share this post with your Dad. Encourage him to speak to his doctor about getting tested. This action could greatly improve his health and happiness for many Father's Days to come. 

Sources: 

1) American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 

2) American Sleep Apnea Association. Health Care Professionals. 

Photo Credit: Yvette T., I love my father as the stars. Creative Commons license.