Opinion: A wake-up call to address sleep apnea

There’s a killer on the loose in New York City. First it steals your nights. Then, it steals your days. Finally, it takes your life. It’s time we talked about sleep apnea.

Around 25% of adults suffer from this condition, which disrupts breathing during sleep, often hundreds of times a night. Sleep apnea doesn’t just leave people tired; it can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Additionally, it can jeopardize public safety, leaving individuals and those around them vulnerable to accidents caused by fatigue and impaired focus. The risks are clear: we need to address this issue head-on, for the health of our residents and the safety of our city.

I first learned about my own sleep apnea in the most embarrassing of ways. On a bachelor’s trip to Puerto Rico, while staying in close quarters with old friends, I was politely informed that I was a record-breaking snorer. At first, I laughed it off, but one of my buddies was serious: “No, this is more than a snore. You should get that checked out.”

I took his advice, saw a doctor and got tested. I had sleep apnea – and an explanation for years of rough sleeping, headaches  and caffeine dependency.

For me, treatment has been a game changer. There is an entire suite of lifestyle changes and equipment (from mouth guards to specialized machines) that can relieve sleep apnea and ensure you wake up ready to take on the world. But not everyone has the resources or awareness to seek help.

That’s why I have introduced legislation to create a citywide program to educate the public about sleep apnea and offer free sleep apnea screenings and at-home tests. This initiative will help New Yorkers recognize and treat a condition that too often goes undiagnosed. According to the

National Institutes of Health, 80% of people with sleep apnea don’t even know they have it. That means millions of Americans – and likely hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers – are struggling through their days, exhausted and unaware of the underlying cause.

This isn’t just a personal health issue; it’s a public safety concern. We don’t want our subway operators, school bus drivers or emergency responders to be battling fatigue while doing their jobs. And it’s not just high-stakes professions – think about your child’s teacher, your dentist or the coworker you depend on. Everyone deserves to be their best at work and for their families, and untreated sleep apnea undermines that ability.

New York City has a responsibility to act. During a recent City Council hearing, I was surprised to learn that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene doesn’t even track data on sleep apnea. How can we address a problem we haven’t measured? This program will close that gap by gathering vital information, enabling better policymaking and raising awareness about this not-so-silent epidemic.

Sleep apnea is not a niche issue – it’s a public health challenge that affects our entire city. Let’s wake up and start acting like it.