Real Medicine Real Lives (Aired 02-26-26) Sleep Matters: The Hidden Health Crisis Behind Fatigue, Apnea, and Heart Risk

In this vital episode of Real Medicine Real Lives, host Dr. Yassir Sonbol connects medical expertise to everyday life through one of the most overlooked health essentials: sleep. Joined by Cristy Plain, Executive Vice President of Sleep Services at Dedicated Sleep and a seasoned leader with over two decades in sleep medicine, the conversation reveals why sleep disorders especially sleep apnea remain widely underdiagnosed and dangerously underestimated.

Cristy breaks down what happens inside the body when breathing is disrupted at night, explaining how untreated sleep apnea forces the heart to work harder, increases cardiovascular strain, and contributes to serious outcomes such as hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke risk, and cognitive decline.