AASM launches ‘More than a Snore’ 

DARIEN, Ill. - The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has launched a new national campaign called “More than a Snore” to raise awareness of obstructive sleep apnea. “This campaign will raise national awareness of obstructive sleep apnea and encourage undiagnosed patients to advocate for themselves and seek treatment,” said Jennifer Martin, a licensed clinical psychologist and president of the AASM. “It is important that patients and health care professionals feel confident to discuss sleep apnea and identify the optimal, personalized treatment plan.” The multi-year campaign is a collaborative project funded through a grant awarded to the AASM by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease prevention and Health Promotion. Obstructive sleep apnea affects nearly 30 million adults in the U.S., with approximately 80% undiagnosed, costing more than $149 billion annually in health care costs, lost work productivity, and workplace and motor vehicle accidents, according to the AASM. The campaign will inform the public that untreated sleep apnea is “More than a Snore,” affecting a person’s long-term health and quality of life. Left untreated, it increases the risk of other health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and depression. The campaign was created through the Count on Sleep partnership, a collaboration between several professional and patient-focused organizations led by the AASM and the Sleep Research Society. Other partnering organizations are the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Chest Physicians, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Thoracic Society and National Sleep Foundation. Resources to assist the public and health care professionals in recognizing sleep apnea are available on the Count on Sleep website at www.countonsleep.org.