In his compelling book The Wake-Up Call: How You Sleep is How You Live, Gregory Arneaud urgently calls for greater public awareness about sleep apnea — a condition that significantly contributes to preventable health problems and fatalities.

As a Certified Respiratory Therapist and the founder and CEO of ISD Health Solutions, Arneaud is a staunch advocate for heightened global awareness about sleep disorders, with a particular focus on sleep apnea.

Arneaud, a US Airforce Veteran, was born in the United States to Trinidadian parents and a father he refers to in his book as “a true workaholic” and “the embodiment of Caribbean hustle culture. Arneaud got to witness first-hand how sleep and Caribbean sensibilities do not often go hand in hand.

His book highlights the fact that sleep apnea, which is often undiagnosed, affects more than a billion people worldwide. He argues that sleep apnea is both preventable and treatable. Arneaud suggests that individuals can improve their sleep quality, overall health, and life expectancy with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Mission: Possible Sleep

In an interview with Our Today, he explained his central thesis that better sleep fosters a better life, positioning sleep apnea as a critical concern in this context.

“I have dedicated 25 years to this field, and my goal is to replicate the impact I’ve had in Trinidad and other regions here in Jamaica,” Arneaud explains. “This work is incredibly personal for me. My family has been affected by sleep apnea, and it wasn’t until after my grandmother’s passing that I truly understood the gravity of the condition. I am committed to helping as many families as I can.”

He added: “This is something people will live with for years and most time depends on a cup or a few of coffee, energy drinks or some form of caffeine to get you through the day, which leads to more sleep issues down the line.”

Arneaud highlights that Jamaica, as one of the largest markets in the English-speaking Caribbean, stands to benefit significantly from increased awareness and education about sleep apnea and other sleep-related issues.

His book arrives at a pivotal moment when sleep-related disorders are gaining recognition as major public health issues. Arneaud hopes that by disseminating this knowledge, more individuals will seek medical guidance and take proactive measures to manage their sleep health.

From chapters delving into the intricacies of ‘Sex, Sleep and Snoring’, or gender-based ‘Women & Sleep’, ‘ Men & Sleep’, to even ‘Kids & Sleep’, Arneaud gives everyone the dose of reality they need in 10 concise and informative chapters that are anecdotes from his real-life experiences.

Get Tested

“Melatonin and magnesium are not the fix you are looking for,” he said.

He encourages getting tested for sleeping disorders.

There are over eighty (80) different types of sleep ailments that could disrupt your health, said Arneud, noting the two major ones being insomnia and sleep apnea.

“It’s a small device that you put on your finger before you go to bed, that sends the information to an app, after which the information is sent to our board-certified sleep doctors here in the United States as well as our local physicians,” He declared. “We identify if there is a risk, then provide a follow-up in regards to therapy options”

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep, positional belts; put the client in the right position while asleep.

“Having spoken to Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Doctor Tufton, who also suffers from sleep apnea and has been treating it for years,” he said. “He noted that maybe a million Jamaicans are suffering from it and still do not understand the seriousness.”

Arneaud almost lost his father after he suffered from a stroke. He was then able to identify that he suffered from sleep apnea, and got him the help he needed.

“It was his wake-up call to start therapy…and it opened up the door for my mother to get tested as well, along with my entire family being treated,” he said. “It can also be hereditary…the way your chin and jawline are positioned, all these things can cause some type of resistance in the airflow.”

A lack of restful sleep, and sleep where your body is deprived of the proper amount of oxygen can result in cardiovascular issues, negatively impact your mental health, and cause hypertension, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, dementia and many more.

“We offer a free consultation to start the journey of you understanding your sleep. I give you all the data I can give you,” he declared. “I’m trying to help people better their lives.”

The Wake-Up Call: How You Sleep is How You Live is available on Amazon with an audiobook option. It’s free during September, and you can receive it via email. Call or visit Fontana Pharmacy to provide your name, email, and phone number for your free Portable Document Format (PDF) copy. You can also purchase the paperback version there.

ISD Health Solution is also the sole distributor in the region for ResMed products to help folks get better sleep.

Arneaud’s dedication to sleep science is deeply personal, shaped by the loss of friends and family members to sleep apnea. His book is both a comprehensive resource and a passionate call to action, urging individuals to prioritize their sleep health and seek help if they exhibit symptoms of sleep apnea. Through his advocacy, Arneaud aims to reduce the incidence of this preventable condition and improve countless lives starting here in the Caribbean.