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Council Member Shaun Abreu introduces legislation for sleep apnea screening and awareness
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Council Member Shaun Abreu introduces Intro 1047, a bill to establish a pilot program for sleep apnea screening and a public awareness campaign. He shares his personal experience with sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the condition's prevalence and the importance of early detection and treatment.
- Abreu emphasizes that an estimated 80% of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed.
- The proposed legislation aims to educate the public about sleep apnea symptoms and available treatments.
- Abreu stresses the impact of untreated sleep apnea on physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life.
Shaun Abreu
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Good morning, and thank you, chair Shulman, for giving me the opportunity to speak about my bill today.
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Over a year ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
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It all started when a friend heard me snoring and suggested I get tested.
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A few weeks later, I was officially diagnosed and began treatment.
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My story isn't unique.
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Many people discover that they have sleep apnea after a friend or a partner notices them snoring or gasping for air during the night.
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Sleep apnea affects an estimated 30,000,000 people nationwide, yet approximately 80% of these cases, about 23,000,000 remain undiagnosed.
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Based on the data we've been able to find, we suspect that around a quarter of New Yorkers aged 30 to 70 could be living with this condition.
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In some ways, I'm fortunate.
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My loud sleep apnea snore alerted those close to me that something was wrong, but not everyone has obvious symptoms.
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For example, women with sleep apnea are less likely to experience loud snoring as a symptom.
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Other less common symptoms of sleep apnea include fatigue, headaches, and unexplained weight gain, and a dry mouth or so sore throat.
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These symptoms can be easily overlooked or mistaken for other issues, but they can take a toll over time, affecting daily life and well-being.
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Untreated sleep apnea doesn't just affect your physical health.
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It impacts your mental health and quality of life.
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It can make it harder to focus at work, lead to mood swings or irritability, and even take away time from your family.
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Sleep deprivation caused by sleep apnea can also be dangerous, increasing the risk of accidents, such as falling asleep at the wheel.
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And over the long term, untreated sleep apnea significantly raises the risk of conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
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Since getting treatment, I've experienced firsthand how life changing it can be to address sleep apnea.
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I sleep more restfully, my mood has improved, and I have more energy during the day.
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Most importantly, I'm able to show up for my personal and professional life in ways that I couldn't before.
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This is why awareness and access to screening are so crucial.
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That's why I'm proud to sponsor intro 1047 and would like to thank chair Schoeman for being a co prime on this bill.
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This legislation would establish a pilot program for sleep apnea screening and an awareness campaign to educate the public about the disease and available treatments.
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Just because you're snoring doesn't mean you're having good sleep.
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It's more than a snore.
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That's what this campaign is about.
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It's more than a snore.
Husein Yatabarry
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We want you to
Shaun Abreu
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to get the help that you need very early on.
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Good, restful sleep is essential to our health.
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I'm proud I'm proud to propose this legislation.
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And finally, enjoy a good night's sleep.
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Sometimes, it's just more than a snore.
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Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from the admin.