How to Test For Sleep Apnea

A great many folks suffer from a disorder called sleep apnea which induces you to stop breathing while you are sleeping. There are various non threatening kinds of sleep apnea but there are conditions that could lead to grave medical issues and put your life at risk. That is why it is of the utmost importance to be administered a sleep apnea test if you have a belief that you’re suffering from this sleep disorder.

There are several ways you can determine if you have a sleep apnea problem, and many people who suffer have a number of symptoms or may even have sleep apnea as a side effect. For example ,fatigue, gaining weight, and mental tiredness all of which are aggravated by sleep apnea, and they will also have cotton mouth or waking up often with a panic attack.

You may also experience insomnia but the only way to know if your symptoms are being caused by sleep apnea or are perhaps the cause of your sleep apnea is to spend some time to be tested for sleep apnea. This test is usually administered at a sleep disorder center but can also be administered at a hospital or doctor’s office where the appropriate facilities and equipment are available.

You’ll need to take a physical exam which consists of an examination of the throat, the nose, the uvula and the palate. There should also be a list of questions detailing your sleep quality, sleep patterns and feelings about how well you are sleeping. The very next step in the process is to have the patient stay overnight where a recording is done.

The test they commonly use to check your sleep health is the PSG or polysomnogram, which is administered in to various forms. The first type of test is carried out overnight and consists of monitoring the following activities; your breathing, heart rate, level of oxygen in your blood and your brain level.

The second type covers a home monitoring version of the test where a technician connects the electrodes and makes it easy to monitor the patient while they are at home using a PSG. What they will be trying to discern in determining the results of the test is a factor called the RDI or respiratory disturbance index.

This method expresses in data form the amount of unnatural hitches which disrupted your breathing over the entire test. Following is the common measures used when deciding if someone has a sleep apnea issue. If the number of abnormal events in an hour is higher than twenty then the patient is usually recommended for treatment.

There are some additional examinations which may also be requested including a multiple sleep latency test that determines how much your lack of sleep is effecting you. For a normal person, they need roughly 10 minutes to fall into a restful sleep so individuals who can fall asleep in less than five minutes are usually recommended for treatment. A strip test can also be administered just before the sleep apnea test to determine if there are further tests needed.

Author: Lorna Finlay

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Complications and Risks of Apnea - Obstructive Sleep

When you finish reading this article, you will know which individuals are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea, the complications and risks associated with this problem and how it can prove fatal. So, be sure to read clear through to the end of the article so you will not miss any of this valuable information.

There are many complications and risks associated with sleep apnea. Some factors put specific individuals at a higher risk of developing obstructive apnea episodes and can lead to further complications.

Being aware of risk factors and potential complications will help you to better discuss apnea with your physician and thus arrive at a better treatment plan.

Although anyone can experience apnea obstructive sleep there are certain factors that put some individuals at a much higher risk of developing apnea. Some of those risk factors include:

• Excess weight - especially around the neck area
• Diabetic patients
• Male gender (non-age specific)
• High blood pressure
• Smokers
• Alcohol drinkers
• Post menopausal women
• Family members who suffer from sleep apnea
• African American or Hispanic descent

When sleep apnea is left untreated

In addition to risk factors, there are numerous complications associated with obstructive apnea when left untreated. Complications of obstructive apnea may include: Sleep deprivation for your partner - loud snoring caused by apnea can keep you partner from getting a good night’s sleep.

What can prove fatal

Interactions with certain medications and surgical procedures - due to breathing problems and poor blood oxygen levels some medications and anesthesia may prove fatal for an apnea sufferer Constant feelings of fatigue during the day - a result of repeated waking through the night. Feelings of irritability, trouble concentrating, and bad behavior are typically present as well.

Cardiovascular issues - untreated apnea causes continued periods of low blood oxygen levels, which can eventually lead to high blood pressure, stroke, or heart failure and can subsequently become fatal causing a sudden death event.

A Serious Medical Problem

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition requiring the attention of a trained physician. If you or someone you love suffers from symptoms of apnea consult a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Author: Douglas Hanna

Get the information you need to fight sleep apnea.  While there is no cure for obstructive apnea sleep, there are many things you can do to fight this problem. Be sure to click here or you will miss this vital and potentially life saving information.

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