Silly/surprising side-benefits of sleeping with a CPAP:
* can pull covers over head and still breathe
* no more waking up dry+thirsty (humidified air, nose instead of mouth)
* reduced stuffiness from allergies (air filtered right before inhalation)
* elephant cosplay
Conversation
On a more serious note, I've wondered a few times how much global productivity could be unlocked if everyone with unexplained daytime drowsiness got polysomnography to check for mild apnea. $10^11/yr wouldn't surprise me. I was drowsy during the day for *years* before realizing.
5
4
96
Heh me too 😴
2
2
At-home polysomnography for all! I've talked to people who *realize* that apnea may be their problem, but they don't want to deal with going into a sleep center etc—and they don't realize they don't even have to do that anymore!
6
1
7
It really should be an OTC non-prescription device without need for testing at all. Just try it and see if it works to combat drowsiness. If not return the machine, treat the headgear as a consumable cost. Cheaper than a full sleep study.
1
7
I mean, it’s not a complex intervention. Even if the diagnosis is subtle. Trying it should be like trying out a new diet or workout routine. We don’t do subtle instrumented testing before deciding to try running for a few weeks. The gross indicators change dramatically enough.
1
5
Very much agreed — especially with modern Cpaps that automatically adjust to whatever is needed. Polysoms are expensive, annoying and intrusive. Pretty much zero downsides to simply trying. Big Sleep^TM’s monopoly on cpap prescription probably kills like 3% of QALYs
1
There's probably room for a -like intervention in this space in which interested clients get set up with a two minute telemedicine call to tick the box. But yes, would be nice if that weren't necessary at all!