How Sleep Apnea is Diagnosed
Speak with your health care professional if you suspect you might have sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder. You will most likely be asked to keep a sleep diary for a few nights. A sleep diary tracks your sleep patterns and behaviors to allow your physician to get a clear picture of how your sleep is being affected.
If necessary, your health care professional may schedule a sleep test overnight in a sleep center. Most sleep centers are set up much like hotels, with private rooms and baths. You will be observed while sleeping — using cameras as well as monitors attached to your body. A test called a polysomnogram, performed at sleep centers, is the definitive test to diagnose sleep apnea.
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is highly treatable, and most individuals find that they experience relief from employing one or sometimes a combination of treatments. Mild to moderate sleep apnea can often be treated with behavioral modification, but most cases of sleep apnea require a physician's assistance to find the most effective treatment.
The treatments outlined below are for informational purposes only. Sleep apnea is a serious condition — it's important to consult with your physician to find the treatment that is best for you.
| Behavioral Treatments for Sleep Apnea |
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| Weight loss |
Losing even 10% of your weight can reduce sleep apnea incidents and dramatically improve the quality of your sleep |
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| Reduce consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and sedatives such as sleeping pills |
Avoiding the use of stimulants and depressants can reduce the likelihood of airway closure during the night |
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| Sleep on your side |
Some individuals with sleep apnea find that they experience temporary relief when sleeping on the side, rather than the back |
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| Establish a regular sleep routine |
Irregular sleep hours can throw off your sleep cycles and lead to breathing problems during the most important sleep stages |
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| Medical Treatments for Sleep Apnea |
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TREATMENT
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| Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) |
A CPAP machine blows pressurized air into a mask worn over the nose to keep the patient's airway open during sleep. This is the most common long-term treatment for severe sleep apnea. |
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| Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) |
An electronic circuit monitors the patient's breathing and provides two different pressures: one for inhalation and one for exhalation. This treatment is sometimes used for patients who find breathing out against increased pressure to be uncomfortable or disruptive to their sleep. |
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| Oral Devices |
Oral devices such as dental appliances open the patient's airway by bringing the lower jaw or tongue forward during sleep. Two common oral devices are the Mandibular Repositioning Device and the Tongue Retaining Device. |
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| Surgery |
Surgically removing tissue such as tonsils, adenoids, or excess tissue at the back of the throat or inside the nose increases the size of the patient's airway, allowing better airflow during sleep. |
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| Oxygen Administration |
Oxygen is provided to the patient via a small tube that fits inside the nose. This treatment is rarely used, although it is occasionally employed in conjunction with CPAP. |
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