Real Talk about Sleep Apnea: A Q&A with model and influencer Remi Bader

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world—yet most people who have it don’t even know it. In fact, nearly 1 billion people globally are affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA),¹ a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep because of blocked airways. Even more surprising? Around 80% of those cases are still undiagnosed and untreated.² 

That’s a huge number of people walking around tired, groggy, and wondering why they never feel fully rested. Remi Bader was one of them—until a sleep study helped her uncover the real reason behind her restless nights and low energy: moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Since then, the model and content creator has been managing her sleep apnea with a CPAP machine (short for continuous positive airway pressure)—a small device that gently delivers air through a mask to keep her airways open while she sleeps. 

In partnership with Resmed, Remi is using her platform to speak openly about living with sleep apnea to help break the stigma around CPAPs. We caught up with Remi to talk about what led to her diagnosis, how she’s feeling now, and why she’s so passionate about helping others in their sleep health journey. 

Let’s start at the beginning—how did you first learn about sleep apnea? Were there specific symptoms or experiences that stood out? 
Remi: I learned I had  sleep apnea when I was discussing my symptoms with my doctor. I was not sleeping well, I was feeling groggy and I felt like my heart was racing all day, even when I did sleep. I also was having night sweats and would wake up drenched in sweat. She recommended I do a sleep study, which ended up showing me I had moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. 

 Can you walk us through the process of getting diagnosed? What was that like for you? 
Remi: The sleep study was an overnight, in person study. They attached a bunch of wires to me before I went to sleep and monitored me through the night. It wasn’t my best night of sleep,   but it did give me the answer I was looking for! 

You’ve been so open about your health and wellness journey—why was it important to you to speak publicly about sleep apnea? 
Remi: The one time I mentioned I might have sleep apnea, my followers were so engaged and loved that I was talking about it. Many told me they felt embarrassed about having sleep apnea, talking about it, or wearing their CPAP in front of their significant other. Others said they thought they might have it too but were avoiding getting tested. I realized how many people felt this way, and I wanted to normalize people’s feelings about sleep apnea. It’s become very important to me. 

 What would you say to someone who’s unsure about getting tested or feels embarrassed about wearing a CPAP? 
Remi: I would say that health is more important than what people think about you. Getting better sleep now is way more important to me than just continuously not sleeping and feeling horrible because I was scared or nervous to sleep with something on my face. It’s okay to wear a CPAP – there is nothing wrong with it! 

How has better sleep changed your life—whether at work, in your mood, travel routines, or content creation? 
Remi: Getting better sleep has changed my life immensely in a positive way. When I fall asleep without my CPAP, I don’t feel great in the morning. It’s a reminder of how much better I feel when I use it and how I am actually treating my sleep apnea. It helps me in all aspects of my life (ex: staying focused, work productivity, keeping up with my health and wellness goals, etc) when I get a good night’s sleep. 

What Resmed products are you using, and how has your experience been with them so far? 
Remi: I am using the AirTouch N30i mask, which is super comfortable. I also use the AirSense 11 CPAP, which works great for me and is also easy for travel!  

Struggling with your sleep? You’re not alone. Take Resmed’s free Sleep Assessment* to understand your sleep health and help you determine if you should consider talking to a healthcare professional.  

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References

1. Benjafield AV, Ayas NT, Eastwood PR, Heinzer R, Ip MSM, Morrell MJ, Nunez CM, Patel SR, Penzel T, Pépin JL, Peppard PE, Sinha S, Tufik S, Valentine K, Malhotra A. Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med. 2019 Aug;7(8):687-698. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31300334; PMCID: PMC7007763.
2. Young T, Evans L, Finn L, Palta M. Estimation of the clinically diagnosed proportion of sleep apnea syndrome in middle-aged men and women. Sleep. 1997 ;20(9):705-6

*This assessment does not provide medical advice or medical diagnosis. Consult with your healthcare professional if you are concerned or have questions about your sleep health.  

This post features a paid partnership with Remi Bader, who is a Resmed brand partner. She received compensation for sharing her personal experience with Resmed products.  As with any medical device, individual results may vary.