What are the signs of sleep apnea?

Common signs include loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and pauses in breathing during sleep. Nontraditional symptoms may include mood changes and difficulty concentrating.

Why We Exist

David Bishop, LCSW, Founder and CEO Sleep Equity Project

Children

Recurring sleep health workshops for Chicago Public Schools 7th and 8th graders enrolled in an enrichment program

Neighborhoods

Partnering with Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) Community Health Workers to put sleep inequities on the community health agenda

Education

Semiannual guest lecturer on sleep health and health inequities, Malcolm X Community College Community Health Worker Program
Mentored and Supervised 12 Masters in Public Health Students on sleep health inequities

Health Centers

Providing sleep medicine lectures by sleep specialists physicians to primary care staff of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

Awareness

Health fairs
Lecturing to mental health clinicians in both public and private practices about sleep and mental health
Discussing sleep health with local Community Mental Health Board

Addressing GAPS In Chicago

The sleep health of people in neighborhoods and communities across Chicago is poor and their health is suffering.

Click Here to Learn More About Our Programs

Addressing Sleep Disparities and Inequities through Advocacy, Community Intervention, Patient Support, Supporting Research

Learn About Issues Affecting People Who Are Underserved and Under-resourced

A future where every person can thrive through the benefits of restorative, high-quality sleep, recognized as a fundamental right and equally accessible to all individuals, families, and communities—free from social, economic, or cultural barriers.

Click Here to Read More

Values

Autonomy, Collaboration, Dignity, Empowerment

Click Here to Volunteer or Collaborate or Donate

Vision

Sleep Disorders : United States Statistics

78M

Sleep Apnea (5)

46M

Insomnia (6)

Of the more than 80 different sleep disorders, these two are the most common.

Frequently asked questions

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Health Disparities

Barriers to Sleep Care

Community Interventions

Patient Advocacy

Sleep Disorders

Sleep apnea isn’t caused by just one thing — it can come from a floppy or crowded airway, weak airway muscle responses, a brain that wakes too easily, or a breathing control system that overcorrects — and many people have a mix. Look at the following reasons.

Learn about Sleep Apnea

Learn about Insomnia

Equity Work In ACTION

Pulse Oximeter Skin Bias

Disparities in Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders & Latinos

CDC links poor sleep to chronic disease

Sleep Disorders & African Americans

Community Health Workers Collaboration

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
(Current and Future)

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure-Gold Standard for Sleep Apnea

There are different types of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Machines.

CPAP-Continuous positive airway pressure=one set pressure
Auto Titrating PAP=sleep physician sets prescription for a range of pressure usually 5-15
Bi-Pap-Bi-Level Pressure=higher pressure when inhaling and lower pressure when exhaling

Nerve Stimulators

The nerve stimulators address the oversized tongue as a cause of sleep apnea. It works by giving a soft electrical pulse to the nerve that attaches to the tongue to make it flatter and not block the airway.

There are two currently FDA approved and on the commercial market:

Inspire Device-attached to one side of the tongue
Genio Device-attaches to both sides of the tongue

Considerations:
These devices will only treat an airway collapse that is tongue based. NOT for other
collapses.

A patient who is considering this will have to undergo screening AND a procedure called
a Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) to see if they have this type of collapse.

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Mandibular Advancement Device

Board Certified Sleep Dentists work with individuals diagnosed by a sleep physician to custom make an oral appliance

The devices are not boil and bite!

They are made through measurements of jaw alignment which will open the airway
There should be numerous appointments over the course of months to properly titrate the device

Note: Listing treatment options is NOT an endorsement or suggestion to try one treatment over the other.

Collaborators

Note: We are still a small organization. Please excuse any errors. We have pages still under development. If you have the appropriate skills and some time, please see the take action to volunteer.

Disclaimer: This site is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be taken for medical advice. Please consult your physician before you make any changes to your sleep treatment.