Take a Sleep Apnea Test to Find out if you Suffer from Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when a person’s breathing stops completely for 10 seconds or more, during sleep. This can lead to a person waking up and gasping for breath multiple times per night. Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health problems both physically and mentally . Most sleep apnea sufferers do not even know that they suffer from this condition. If you exhibit some of the most common symptoms of  sleep apnea – excessive fatigue, headaches, night sweats, inability to concentrate, irritability, and waking up with dry mouth – you might want to consider talking to your doctor about getting tested.

If your doctor determines that you might have sleep apnea, he or she will probably recommend you have a sleep apnea test called a polysomnogram. During a polysomnogram, you are connected to a diagnostic machine by several leads that monitor brain waves, muscle tension, oxygen levels, eye movement, respiration, and audio monitoring (for loud snoring and gasping during the night). Tests can be done in a clinic or at home. In sleep lab testing is far more thorough and generally preferred.

The sleep apnea test is painless and is usually covered by insurance. It can save you from a number of long term health problems that result from decreased levels of oxygen in the brain. Recent studies have shown that CPAP treatment on sleep apnea patients has almost immediate positive results.

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, speak with your doctor about getting treatment today.