How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

The most common way for sleep apnea to be diagnosed is with a sleep test ordered by your physician. The test can be done either overnight in a sleep lab or through a home sleep test.

The sleep test is painless and consists of wearing various wires and sensors on your body while you sleep, which can be a bit uncomfortable to adjust to when you are first set up. Ultimately, though, it’s worth it.

Your physician will be able to detect if you have sleep apnea by collecting information while you sleep. How often you take a breath, if you stop breathing, and your pulse and heart rate are just some of what the doctor will look for, as this will help in identifying if you have sleep apnea. In addition to the physical results of your sleep test, family history and symptoms will play a part in aiding your doctor with the diagnosis.

Untreated sleep apnea can be extremely dangerous, so if you think you have sleep apnea, or know someone who has symptoms, it’s important to get your health care provider involved to determine if a sleep test is necessary. This will not only answer the question about whether or not you have the condition, but it will allow you to quickly get onto treatment if you do.