Doing something!

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Has treating your sleep apnea made a positive difference in your life? Here is a list of things you can do to help others and to help the American Sleep Apnea Association reach more of the undiagnosed and to better support those in treatment. Let us know how you are "paying it forward."

1. Tell your story:
   1. Let your sleep center know that you are willing to talk to individuals, groups or the media about your experience.
   2. "Each one - reach one" - When you hear of someone whose story sounds like yours, tell them and urge them to seek help…family, friends, coworkers
   3. Get the word out to other family members that you have been diagnosed, so they can consider their own symptoms. Sleep apnea can run in families.
   
   
2. Reach out through the medical community:
   1. Make sure your primary care provider knows how much your life has changed through diagnosis and treatment of your sleep apnea. This will help remind the provider to keep looking for sleep apnea in others.
   2. Offer ASAA informational flyers to your medical providers; if necessary, donate a plastic holder to display the flyers.
   3. Suggest a sleep apnea booth for your next community health fair.
   4. Talk to your sleep center about joining or starting an A.W.A.K.E. support group. Information and materials are available through the ASAA.
   
   
3. Sleep apnea at work and in your community:
   1. Offer to read My Daddy Snores at your local elementary school, after school program or camp.
   2. Recommend that next month's "Dress Down Day" contributions at your workplace go to the ASAA.
   3. Distribute flyers that describe sleep apnea. With permission, these can often be placed on bulletin boards at hospitals, libraries, even grocery stores. Informational material is available through the ASAA.
   4. Send informational brochures by mail or deliver to mailboxes in your community. Materials available through the ASAA.
   5. Organize a fundraiser for sleep apnea. Distribute information with those cookies or crafts. Donate proceeds to the ASAA.
   6. Offer to share the "What is Sleep Apnea" educational DVD (available for purchase from the ASAA) with local groups (PTC, health fair, human resources, church, social groups).
   
   
4. Use the media and the government:
   1. Contact local health reporters for your newspaper or local TV stations. They are often looking for human-interest stories, especially if they can interview a patient. Offer to tell your story.
   2. Contact local paper, radio, TV stations and encourage them to run a piece on sleep apnea. Offer to be interviewed. Provide ASAA contact information to get the authoritative information to them.
   3. Write a local interest story for your local paper.
   4. Contact your local political representatives, especially those with health care interests and public safety. Make them aware of sleep apnea and how it fits with those interests. Encourage their support in any relevant legislation.

   Join or renew your membership in the American Sleep Apnea Association!

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