Should all Soldiers be required to take a sleep study every year to identify and treat sleep apnea in Soldiers to reduce accidents?

SFC Edwin Watson — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:01:51 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 1:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:07:52 -0400

Only those who are predisposed.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 25 at 2016 1:28 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:28:08 -0400

Damn! I wasn't aware that Sleep Apnea is that big a Problem in the Army. Not uncommon in the Overweight Security Officers that I work with but I thought that was mostly a weight thing.

Response by Albert Bewersdorff made Jun 25 at 2016 2:02 PM

Albert Bewersdorff — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:02:22 -0400

Raising the awareness would be very important, I think, but there are a lot of diseases that might or might not be effecting you. Especially males tend to not listen to their body enough, but that might be a little too much. The same is true for other professions also by the way, like professional truck drivers and others.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Jun 25 at 2016 2:18 PM

MSgt John McGowan — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:18:16 -0400

SFC A sleep study would take a long time and be expensive. A simply oxygen intake study at night would indicate if other tests should be carried out. Well that is how they found my apnea, they may do things different now. But I would stop breathing at night, oxygen drops and it is measured out. But a medical person is needed to answer this question.

Response by Jordan Gaudard made Jun 25 at 2016 4:34 PM

Jordan Gaudard — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 16:34:23 -0400

Give it an option during the PHA for Soldiers, don't make it mandatory. I think STD/STI checks should be made mandatory every year.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jun 25 at 2016 4:43 PM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 16:43:15 -0400

Hell no, already way too many people seeking sleep studies than the epidemiology supports. This idea would overwhelm the clinics and in a fit population the number with true issues is small. Almost every person has a small amount of an occupational sleep disorder is over weight or has something going on, but it doesn't mean they need a sleep study. They just need to turn off the tv and go to bed.

Response by SCPO Dan Ramey made Jun 25 at 2016 6:24 PM

SCPO Dan Ramey — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 18:24:56 -0400

I think MSgt John McGowan has the right idea. Do some basic tests that are easy to do and will not disrupt either the soldier/sailor or the clinic. If there is indication of a problem, then do further testing.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 25 at 2016 9:10 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:10:01 -0400

I've had sleep apnea for a long time. If you're a constant snorer, get the simple oximeter overnighter regardless of age. If you're not a snorer, get one done at 40 and then every few years thereafter. If the oximeter drill goes outside of set range, then the real sleep study is likely warranted. Sleep apnea is more prevalent than many think. Get after it because untreated, the current numbers says it takes 7 years off your life; same as smoking.

If you're within 1-2 years of exiting service, do the oximeter for sure and lower the bar for an actual sleep study. Apnea recorded in your record is a 50%er with VA. Worse thing you can do is wait until you get out to see if you have it. You'll get medical boarded for suitability for service if you have sleep apnea. I recall it wasn't a problem staying in for most.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2016 12:08 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 00:08:51 -0400

Yes

Response by SFC Edwin Watson made Jun 26 at 2016 10:35 AM

SFC Edwin Watson — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 10:35:20 -0400

Snoring is only one symptom of sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea often will stop breathing because their airway is closed, sometimes for a few seconds, in worse cases up to two minutes at a time. It can be fatal, and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's. Very often when troops have fallen asleep at the wheel, it is later found that they had undiagnosed sleep apnea. Although overweight people have a higher percentage of sleep apnea, many have been diagnosed with extremely low body fat. Olympic athletes have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2016 7:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:54:50 -0400

Yes people should be tested for sleep apnea. I have it and it sucks. Before I was diagnosed I would wake up trying to catch my breath and it sucked

Response by SFC Edwin Watson made Jun 27 at 2016 8:40 AM

SFC Edwin Watson — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:40:42 -0400

DOT is now requiring Commercial Drivers License (CDL) holders to be tested for the potential for sleep apnea on their annual physical due to truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Many states are considering the same for automobile license renewal, since there are a larger number of automobile drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Since Soldiers are required to maintain a civilian license to keep their military drivers license, then this won't be a question, but a requirement in the future, which probably makes the question not IF but when are we going to include sleep apnea in our scheduled physicals.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2016 10:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:11:41 -0400

Yes!!! Definitely. I think most men have sleep apnea. Especially if they are overweight or have a fatty neck.

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Jun 27 at 2016 12:50 PM

CSM William DeWolf — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:50:29 -0400

Sleep studies are now very common and do not take a long time. It's an overnight study and is definitely worthwhile. If your fatigued and don't feel rested when getting up in the morning, it is worth investigating.

Response by CPT Carlos Ribadeneira made Jun 27 at 2016 9:34 PM

CPT Carlos Ribadeneira — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 21:34:06 -0400

Definitely! If not every year, at least every 2 or 3 years, as a preventive measure.

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Jun 28 at 2016 12:23 AM

SSG Mark Franzen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 00:23:24 -0400

YES I BELIVE IN IT I HAVE SLEEP APENA AND HAD BEEN TESTED AND YES I HAVE IT AND WELL AS PTSD WHICH IS QUITE HARD TO DEAL WITH.

Response by TSgt Eric Lewis made Jun 28 at 2016 8:04 AM

TSgt Eric Lewis — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:04:35 -0400

If signs point to a soldier possibly having an issue with sleep apnea then I would say yes, but to test every soldier, no.
There are some other medical conditions that could also cause a soldier to either sleep badly or just feel tired all the time. Signs of these should also be looked for.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Jun 28 at 2016 10:45 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:45:57 -0400

Sleep studies are very expensive and Sleep Apnea has very clear symptoms. I don't see the need to make testing mandatory.

Response by PFC Eugene Piotter made Jun 29 at 2016 3:13 AM

PFC Eugene Piotter — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 03:13:33 -0400

A few years after I was put out, I was diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) When I was first tested, it only took 1 hour for my blood oxygen levels to hit 58%. I do know that I probably have had it since I was a kid, as I was always told I snored really loud. I was skinny as a kid, and still had my tonsils. While I was in, I got up to around between 220-240, so my weight was becoming an issue. I'm now 35, and last September I finally had my tonsils and adenoids taken out. I was averaging around 315 at that time. Nearly a year later, I'm hovering around 275. I have a bipap machine set to 19 over 17. I do often wonder what could have happened if I would have been tested while I was in. I kind of think that having a test done would be advantageous, as it can identify potential problems.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Jun 29 at 2016 12:57 PM

SSgt Michael Cox — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 12:57:41 -0400

The problem with making it required is if you are found to have Sleep Apnea like I do is it is a medical discharge. So it would be a career ender for anyone wanting to retire. On the bright side it is 50% disability if the VA accepts your claim for Sleep Apnea.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2018 9:40 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 09:40:02 -0400

Hi, I was NCOIC of the Sleep Center at BMACH Ft. Benning for 3 & 1/2 years. Sleep studies should only be done on those who have problems sleeping or with undo fatigue. Weight CAN be a factor in sleep apnea, but it is not absolute. I have seen heavy guys without apnea, and scrawny guys with it. CPAP is the golden standard for obstructive sleep apnea, and I've seen plenty of service members deploy with apnea & CPAP devices; it's just a matter of obtaining paperwork. We also got deploying patients a CPAP battery pack for those with limited access to electricity.