Sleep apnea is a severe medical condition that can cause chronic exhaustion. If your sleep apnea is severe enough, it may prevent you from holding a job. That’s where Social Security disability may help. This federal government program benefits sleep apnea sufferers who meet specific symptom requirements. Let’s look at whether or not you may be eligible for Social Security disability and how new treatments for sleep apnea may help you.
What is Sleep Apnea? What are the Symptoms?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when your breathing pauses during sleep. This breathing interruption can cause you to snore, gasp for air, experience loud snoring, or have prolonged pauses in your breathing. Sleep apnea can also cause chronic fatigue, insomnia, and daytime drowsiness. Excessive daytime sleepiness is another common symptom, particularly in adults with sleep apnea.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA):
- Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common type, occurring when your airway has physical blockages during sleep.
- Central sleep apnea is less common, occurring when your brain doesn’t send signals to your muscles to breathe.
- Complex sleep apnea is what doctors call suffering from both types of sleep apnea.
Recognizing the symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and abnormal nighttime breathing, is crucial for seeking medical advice.
Sleep apnea is a severe medical condition that can have long-term health consequences. If left untreated, it can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. It is essential to seek medical treatment if you think you may suffer from sleep apnea.
What Are the Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea & How is It Treated?
Several factors can contribute to sleep apnea, including:
- Overweight or obese
- Large neck size
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Alcohol or sedatives
- Nasal congestion
Identifying these risk factors is essential for the diagnosis and management of sleep apnea.
While there is no cure, various treatments can help manage and treat sleep apnea effectively. In some cases, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking may help to improve your symptoms. For those with mild sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking may significantly improve symptoms.
If lifestyle changes don’t help, your doctor may recommend using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine helps to keep your airway open during sleep.
Another option is a same-day procedure that places a small device to help you breathe while you sleep at night. The Inspire device comes with a remote that you turn on before going to bed. Inspire stimulates a specific nerve that helps open your airways when you need to breathe. This newer FDA-approved treatment for sleep apnea is growing in popularity. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is another treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea that works by stimulating the muscles to keep the airway open.
Treating sleep apnea often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medical devices, and sometimes surgery to prevent apnea events and reduce their severity.
Other more in-depth surgeries are also an option in some cases but are typically only recommended if other treatments haven’t worked.
It is important to address sleep apnea promptly, as untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
How Does Social Security Disability Help Sleep Apnea Sufferers with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?
If your sleep apnea is severe enough, it may prevent you from working. People with sleep apnea often face significant challenges in their daily lives, including chronic fatigue and difficulty concentrating. If this is the case, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for benefits, you must meet specific requirements.
First, you must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Second, you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. Lastly, your medical records must conclude that your state of health will last at least one year or result in death. Additionally, your residual functional capacity (RFC) will be evaluated to determine your eligibility for benefits.
Some of the benefits you could expect to receive from SSD include:
- Monthly cash benefit
- Health insurance through Medicare
- Tax benefits
- Access to free or low-cost medical care
Consulting a sleep specialist can provide a comprehensive diagnosis and tailored treatment plan to manage sleep apnea effectively.
Is Sleep Apnea a Disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize sleep apnea as a disability. However, if you suffer from severe enough sleep apnea, you may meet eligibility standards with the other symptoms resulting from your sleep apnea.
Severe sleep apnea can significantly impair your ability to work and perform daily activities, making it a critical factor in disability evaluations.
To qualify for benefits, you must meet SSD’s definition of disabled. Their definition includes these conditions:
- Your symptoms must prevent you from working or earning a living
- You must have suffered from your disability for at least 12 months in the past, or doctors expect you to have a disability for at least 12 months.
How Could I Potentially Qualify for SSD with Sleep Disorders?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) includes breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental issues in its listing. If you meet the criteria of an SSD listing because of your sleep apnea, you could qualify for disability benefits. Central sleep apnea syndromes, which involve the brain’s failure to signal the muscles to breathe, can also qualify under certain SSD listings.
You may qualify for SSD if your symptoms from sleep apnea cause the complications within these SSD listings:
3.09 Chronic pulmonary hypertension: You can qualify if your mean pulmonary artery pressure is equal to or greater than 40 mm Hg. Your doctor can do a cardiac catheterization to show that this is a stable condition for you.
4.02 Chronic heart failure/cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure): You’ll need evidence to show that you have chronic heart failure. Evidence may include medical history and physical examination describing your:
- Symptoms and signs of pulmonary congestion
- Symptoms and signs of systemic congestion
- Limited cardiac output with abnormal findings on medical imaging
Treatment emergent central sleep apnea, which can develop after initially having obstructive sleep apnea, requires different treatment methods and can also be considered for SSD benefits.
12.02 Severe cognitive deficits, mood disturbances, or behavioral issues: Neurocognitive disorders, including cognitive decline caused by mental issues like intellectual difficulties or memory problems. To qualify for benefits under this listing, you must show that your condition has caused severe, documented issues with
- memory
- paying attention
- judgment
- planning
- using language
- interacting socially (1)
If you think you may be eligible for SSD, the best way to find out is to contact your local Social Security office. The staff there can help you determine if you meet the requirements for benefits. They can also help you file a claim if you decide to apply.
We Can Help with a Sleep Specialist
If you believe your sleep apnea is severe enough to disrupt your daily work life, schedule an appointment with our Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists at Enticare. A sleep study can provide a detailed diagnosis of your sleep apnea and help determine the most effective treatment options. We can help with the diagnosis process for the medical requirements to qualify for SSD.
Alternatively, we can help you find new ways to treat your sleep apnea. If CPAP and BiPAP do not work for your sleep apnea, we can recommend new treatments for sleep apnea, such as Inspire, that may help you live with energy again! Our board-certified surgeons may also perform corrective surgeries on the tissues in your throat or mouth to help you breathe easy at night. Sleep apnea is one of several sleep disorders that can significantly impact your quality of life if left untreated. Set up an appointment today and start finding out your next steps.
The effectiveness of treatment for sleep apnea depends on the type of treatment and the individual’s response, with some people experiencing immediate improvements while others may take longer to see full benefits.