Your doctor will also typically do a physical exam, including an exam of the throat, neck, and mouth, and take your medical history. Your doctor may give you a monitor to wear when you sleep that measures your oxygen levels and heart rate, to help diagnose sleep apnea. But you may also use a take-home version of the test. You may participate in a test called a polysomnogram at a hospital or sleep center. How is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed?ĭiagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea usually involves participating in a sleep study, in which you're observed as you sleep. Snoring that resumes with a loud sound as breathing starts again Snoring that's interrupted with periods of quiet (called an apnea episode) Snoring is one of the biggest symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Others find that they just don't feel rested after a night of sleep and feel sleepy during the day. Some people have obstructive sleep apnea with no symptoms. What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea? Swollen or large adenoids and tonsils (in children) Thyroid disorder or other endocrine conditionĭefect of the tissues that support the head and neck Large or thick neck (greater than 16 inches for women and 17 inches for men) Risk factors include:įamily member with obstructive sleep apnea Knowing the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea can help you get a diagnosis. Who is at risk for obstructive sleep apnea? Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems. It's also more common in men than in women.īut what's frightening is that as many as 90% of people who have obstructive sleep apnea don't know that they have it. Only about 2% of children have obstructive sleep apnea. In people with sleep apnea, these relaxed muscles combine with a narrowed airway to interrupt breathing.Īnyone at any age can have obstructive sleep apnea, but it's most common in middle-aged and older adults.
When you sleep, your body is completely relaxed - even the muscles that help you breathe. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15 Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30 Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: The AHI measures an average number of apnea and hypopnea episodes that you experience per hour that you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can range from moderate to severe, based on a measurement and rating system called the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Your breathing typically stops because something is blocking your upper airway, such as the muscles, tongue, and other body tissues. They're called apneas if your breathing completely stops. These periods are called hypopneas when your breathing is reduced and you're not taking in enough oxygen. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, for longer than 10 seconds at least 5 times per hour (on average) throughout your sleep period.
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