Originally Posted by
rvr1800
BS. How do you know? Maybe he's adapted to this type of sleep and feels fine. He's passed all his check rides. Maybe won't live as long as the rest of us but seriously we're going to also threaten his career? I'm am vehemently against this big brother type medical exam. Billy32's tongue in cheek response illustrates where this is headed if we allow this nonsense to continue.
I am also opposed to the big brother approach, but from what MikeF16 describes,
in this one case, that person needs to be checked out. One does not adapt to "waking up" every 30-40 seconds, nor do they probably know they are suffering from it or even realize they are "waking up". I use the term "waking up" loosely. During an apnea, the O2 sats drop and the brain fires a message to get more oxygen. The person is not consciously aware of this.
It should not threaten his career, simply get his OSA treated.
I had OSA, did not know it (family doc suspected), had the sleep studies, did the CPAP and finally surgery to correct it. Occasionally, I would dream of being suffocated, and truly wake up gasping for air.