Cognition, as defined by the National Library of Medicine, is “the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.” Cognitive issues and memory loss are often listed as symptoms of sleep apnea, but how do we know if we are dealing with these symptoms? These are broad terms, difficult to pinpoint in daily life, especially since phrases like “brain fog” have become commonplace and seem to cover a range of experiences.
Aeroflow Sleep does a good job of approaching the clinical angle already, but a patient perspective is special. That’s where I come in; with real life experiences of my own and those of the guests on my podcast. And, hearing their stories, I’m confident that there are 3 common, cognitive denominators you should be aware of if you think you have obstructive sleep apnea.
I lived all my life in Scotland until my American husband proposed moving to Florida, where he grew up. I was excited for the change! I dreamed of trips to the beach and pool and glorious weather every single day.
That was 16 years ago and life in Florida has largely lived up to my expectations, but one of the elements that I found a bit more challenging was understanding the United States health insurance system. Luckily, there are places like Aeroflow Sleep who can help today, so you don’t have to learn from experience the hard way like I did.
I sat in the doctor’s office with a sense of anticipation, almost verging on excitement. I was 23 years old, and my daytime sleepiness was getting so bad that I was struggling to stay awake at work. After an initial consultation, the doctor ran every blood test he could think of. I was returning to the doctor’s office for the results.
“Great news!,” he said with a beaming smile. “All of your bloodwork came back completely normal.” I tried to mirror his jubilant expression, but deep down, I felt disappointment and dismay. The doctor’s reassurances made me question if I had made up my sleepiness or if my sleepiness was my fault for not sticking to an early bedtime. It never occurred to me that the doctor could be missing a serious sleep disorder and that I should seek a second opinion or push for a sleep study.
