Sleep apnea is one of the most serious and common disorders. It repeatedly disrupts sleep when we are asleep. If it is not addressed, it won’t just lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also result in heart attack and stroke.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have the condition, they suggest several diagnosis options. For instance, they can recommend online sleep apnea diagnosis or in-lab assessment. Either of the options can help determine how severe the condition is.
Understanding Sleep Apnea?
It is a condition in which our breathing processes stop and start repeatedly. Depending on the problem you have, your doctor can diagnose you with either of the following conditions:
- CSA (central sleep apnea). In this condition, our brains don’t send signals. These signals are necessary to ensure our breathing-related muscles work when sleeping.
- OSA (obstructive sleep apnea): In this disorder, the muscles around our throats relax when we sleep. This, in turn, causes surrounding tissues to press on our windpipes, thus blocking air movement.
- Complex/mixed sleep apnea: This form combines both CSA and OSA.
Diagnosis
A sleep study is the only way to confirm whether a patient is experiencing breathing issues. A healthcare provider will collect your family/personal history, inquire about symptoms, and carry out physical exams to determine whether they need to be referred to the survey.
During an assessment of the condition, your healthcare provider can also ask one or several questions. They also pay attention to your blood pressure, weight, or neck circumference.
Warning Signs to Consider Diagnosis
Here are common warning signs to consider diagnosis:
1. Difficulty to Focus/Concentrate
The condition may result in an inability to concentrate on the tasks. Over time, the sleep deprivation caused by the disorder may lead to reduced performance for everyone suffering from this problem.
2. Snoring, Grasping, or Snorting
Noisy sleep is a major warning sign that our upper airway could be obstructed. Not every snorer has the condition. However, the two are closely related. As your snoring gets louder, the odds of having the disorder are greater.
If you are diagnosed with the condition, your significant other may notice that breathing pauses often punctuate your snores. Those pauses are simply apnea episodes and might recur many times throughout the night.
3. Depression
Sleep disorders and depression go together. Many people suffering from this disorder also have depression. So, it is important to treat both conditions. Otherwise, treating depression only can result in underwhelming results.
4. Mood Changes
Sleep apnea causes a lack of sleep. This, in turn, may lead to moodiness or overreaction to emotional events and stress. If you note an increased frequency of mood swings, know that lack of quality sleep may result from the condition.
The bottom line is that this condition is prevalent. It doesn’t just affect adults; it also affects kids. If untreated, it may pose serious health issues. So, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss symptoms, concerns, and possible treatment after diagnosis.