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FA L L 2 0 1 4 • S L E E P & W E L L N E S S M A G A Z I N E
A FEW WORDS FROM AARC EXECUTIVE OFFICE ✒ BY
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TOM KALLSTROM AND TIM MYERS
TOM KALLSTROM MBA, RRT, FAARC IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE (AARC). TIM MYERS MBA, RRT-NPS, FAARC IS AN ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH THE AARC. THE AARC AND THE AMERICAN SLEEP & BREATHING ACADEMY (ASBA) HAVE COLLABORATED EXTENSIVELY OVER THE PAST YEAR TO PROMOTE PATIENT AND CAREGIVER EDUCATION AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH BREATHING DISORDERS, PARTICULARLY DISORDERS THAT RELATE TO SLEEP. KALLSTROM AND MYERS RECENTLY SHARED A FEW OF THEIR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE RESPIRATORY PROFESSION AND THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF SLEEP DISORDER BREATHING FOR SLEEP & WELLNESS MAGAZINE READERS.
1. ROLE OF THE AARC • Encourages and promotes professional excellence while serving as a resource for patients, government agencies, and national institutions about respiratory health issues • Advocates for patients and their families with respiratory conditions • Advances the science and practice for respiratory therapists
2. WHAT ARE RESPIRA! TORY CONDITIONS, AND WHAT RISKS DO THEY POSE? Some commonly known respiratory disorders are asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), emphysema, pneumonia, tuberculosis and bronchitis. It’s important for people who suspect they have an acute or chronic respiratory condition to meet with their physician and get an accurate diagnosis and proper, ongoing treatment. Patients with undiagnosed respiratory conditions, such as sleep apnea, may suffer from daytime sleepiness, which not only degrades their quality of life but also puts them and others in danger if they drive or operate machinery. It’s estimated that drowsy drivers cause thousands of fatalities every year in the U.S. People who work long or late shifts or work in high-stress positions may also make critical mistakes that endanger themselves and others when they don’t get enough sleep. Patients with respiratory conditions also have an increased risk of developing other acute or chronic health issues, such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems. Somatic heart disease has been identified as a possible risk of having undiagnosed sleep apnea, for instance.
