Reggie inspired other NFL players like former teammate and close friend Aaron Taylor to get tested for sleep apnea, start and stick to CPAP treatment, and help spread awareness. The foundation “helps people of all economic backgrounds to understand the symptoms and risks” of sleep apnea, as well as provide donated CPAP equipment to those with a CPAP prescription who otherwise could not afford it.ĭrafted in the first round from the University of Tennessee, he played 15 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, won Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay in 1997, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006. Two years after White’s death, his wife Sara and the Wisconsin-based Sleep Wellness Institute cofounded the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research & Education Foundation. The football legend’s CPAP machine was found at his bedside – unused. Reggie White died on December 26, 2004, at age 43 from a cardiac arrhythmia, which many believe was partly caused by his untreated sleep apnea. Several athletes were able to set new personal records and season-best times and broke long-standing Stanford and American records while participating in the sleep study. Men’s basketball players had become faster and more accurate shooters after being tested and receiving specialized sleep care. In 2008, Stanford swimmers were quicker in the water, off the starting block and in their turns after more sleep. New research has shown, athletes, coaches, trainers, managers and team physicians need to understand the huge impact sleep has on athletic performance and results. People tend to have a good understanding of the first two, but healthy sleep knowledge is lacking. Peak physical health requires optimum nutrition, proper conditioning and healthy sleep. As an example, read about NFL receiver Percy Harvin below. But even mild sleep apnea or a milder form called upper airway resistance can take a toll on the body. Often patients are misdiagnosed, told not a big deal you have no or only mild sleep apnea. Sleep apnea patients may sleep well or very poorly either situation can put you at risk. You don’t have to snore to have abnormal breathing during sleep. The sports culture approach is to often not say anything and man/women up. Excessive sleepiness can cause slowed thought processes, poor memory, delayed reaction time and difficulty concentrating. Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea results in chronic sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness. In this public service announcement, Aaron speaks with his friends Randy Cross, Brian Jones and Adam Zucker about the warning signs for sleep apnea. Aaron is passionate about encouraging others to get help for sleep apnea. Now he feels better about his health, and he enjoys having more energy and less daytime fatigue. Today Aaron is successfully treating sleep apnea, using CPAP therapy at home and an oral appliance on the road. The results confirmed that sleep apnea was the cause of his problems. But it wasn’t until many years later that he discussed these concerns with his doctor, who referred him to a sleep center for a sleep study. Since high school, Aaron had snored, had daytime sleepiness, and felt a lack of energy. He was a first-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers and was a member of its Super Bowl XXXI championship team. Aaron Taylor was a first-team All American at the University of Notre Dame, where he won the Lombardi Award as the best lineman in college football.
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