Why is Sleep Apnea Awareness Day held on April 18th?
April 18th is an important date in the history of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. On this day in 1981, Professional Colin Sullivan published the results of a small study (five patients) in the British Medical Journal The Lancet entitled – “Reversal of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Applied Through the Nares“.
The use of CPAP revolutionized the treatment of a condition, providing a non-invasive means to eliminate the severe oxygen destatuations and resulting sleep fragmentation that occurs when someone as has sleep apnea. This treatment improves the quality of life by providing a restful night’s sleep and there is evidence that it has a postive impact on other conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and depression.
Choosing April 18th as Sleep Apnea Awareness Day we also honor Dr. Colin E. Sullivan, the inventor of CPAP and lead author on the above reference study. The Association published an interview with Dr. Sullivan in the Wake-Up Call in 2006.
His discovery has had a significant positive impact on the lives of many, many people.