The way that physicians diagnose sleep apnea hinges on medical and family histories. They will also conduct a physical examination. They will study your symptoms. If they feel that the signs, symptoms and patterns fit this condition, then you will be referred for a sleep study.
Sleep studies are measurements that show your sleeping pattern. The results show how much and how well you sleep. If you have any problems with your sleeping, the studies will show the results of that.
If you are referred for a sleep study, it is important that you get one. The study can determine if you have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can increase your health risk for strokes, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Physicians who are experienced in reading sleep studies can easily diagnose sleep apnea and provide treatment so that you can sleep better at night. The important thing is to let your physician know about any adverse sleeping habits you have experienced.
They would include fatigue and chronic sleepiness during the day. Also, advise your physician if you’ve had difficulty getting to sleep or waking up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.
You could be suffering from a sleep disorder that you are unaware of. Physicians experienced in sleep disorders will ask you about your sleep schedule. They will also ask your family members about any chronic snoring that they have dealt with.
Physicians who are experienced with sleep disorders are known as sleep specialists. They can easily diagnose and provide treatment for those who are experiencing problems sleeping.
In order to help the specialists pinpoint what’s going on, you should create and keep a sleep diary for no more than two weeks. This is the prelude to the sleep study. Here are some questions that you may see on a sleep diary:
- The time you went to bed the previous night
- The time you woke up in the morning
- How many hours you slept the previous night
- How many times you woke up during the night
- How long did it take you to fall asleep the previous night
- What medications you took the previous night
- If you were you wide awake when you woke up in the morning
- If you were you awake and tired when you woke up in the morning
- If you were you sleepy when you woke up in the morning
- The number of drinks with caffeine did you have during the day
- The number of alcoholic drinks did you have during the day
- The time that you consumed the alcoholic drinks
- The number of naps you had
- How long the naps lasted
- If you were very sleepy during the day
- If you were a little tired during the day
- If you were somewhat alert during the day
- If you were you wide awake during the day
Your physician may also inquire with you to ask the following:
- Snorting
- Gasping
- Headaches in the morning
If the results of the diary determine:
- Frequent naps
- Wake up more than a few times during the night
- Takes you more than a half hour to get to sleep
- Constantly sleepy in the daytime
Physical Exams To Check For Sleep Apnea
During the physical exam, your physician will check the areas of your throat, nose and mouth. They will be looking for enlarge or additional tissues. For children who are diagnosed with sleep apnea, they usually have enlarged tonsils. With them, it doesn’t take much to provide a diagnosis other than an exam and medical history.
For adults, the physicians look for an enlarged uvula, which is a piece of tissue that sits and hangs from the middle of the back of your mouth. They also look for a soft palate, which is in the back of your throat and is known as the roof of your mouth in that area.
How Family Members Can Help To Detect Sleep Apnea
Because most people don’t know that they’re suffering from sleep apnea, it’s important that there is someone that can detect abnormalities while you sleep. The person doesn’t know that their breathing can start and stop at any time during the night. They also don’t take into consideration when someone tells them that they are a chronic and loud snorer.
There are things that family members can do to help out:
- Let them know that they have a chronic case of loud snoring.
- Ask them to consult their physician.
- If they are diagnosed with sleep apnea, advise them to follow the instructions, including any post-op follow up and treatments.
Be there for them emotionally. This can be a trying time for them, and they need all of the support that they can get.