Should I have a sleep study to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea?
Introduction
This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.
Key points in making your decision
The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although doctors use sleep studies to diagnose both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, this Decision Point focuses on obstructive sleep apnea.
Consider the following when making your decision:
- If you snore but do not have other symptoms of sleep apnea, you may not need a sleep study. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (if needed), sleeping on your side, and keeping a regular sleep schedule may reduce your snoring.
- If you have symptoms of sleep apnea (particularly excessive snoring or daytime sleepiness), your doctor will probably suggest a polysomnography sleep study. Polysomnography is the only sure way to find out whether you have sleep apnea.
- If you know that you have sleep apnea, you can treat it.
- If you have mild sleep apnea, or more severe sleep apnea without daytime sleepiness, treatment may or may not reduce your symptoms and complications such as high blood pressure.
- If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, treatment generally reduces symptoms of sleep apnea and may reduce your risk of complications.
Medical Information
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times an hour that you stop breathing (apnea) or that airflow to your lungs is reduced (hypopnea). Apnea episodes may occur from 5 to 50 times an hour.
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
A blockage or narrowing of the airways in your nose, mouth, or throat generally causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This usually occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially or completely block the airway.
Sleep apnea can also occur if you have bone deformities or enlarged tissues in your nose, mouth, or throat. For example, you may have enlarged tonsils. During the day when you are awake and standing up, this may not cause problems. But when you lie down at night, the tonsils can press down on your airway, narrowing it and causing sleep apnea.
Other factors that make sleep apnea more likely include using certain medicines or alcohol before bed, sleeping on your back, and being obese.
Why should I have a sleep study?
A sleep study can give you a positive diagnosis of sleep apnea. This is important because if sleep apnea is not diagnosed and treated, it can interfere with your quality of life. If you have sleep apnea, you may be at risk for excessive daytime sleepiness and complications such as high blood pressure, high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), depression, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Will treating sleep apnea help me?
Research shows that treating sleep apnea can reduce sleepiness.1, 2 It may also improve blood pressure.3, 4, 5 For people with sleep apnea and coronary artery disease, treatment of sleep apnea can lower the risk of some problems such as heart failure.6
If you need more information, see the topic Sleep Apnea.
Your Information
Your choices are to:
- Have a sleep study.
- Try ways to reduce snoring and not have a complete sleep study.
The decision about whether to have a sleep study takes into account your personal feelings and the medical facts.
Deciding about having a sleep study Reasons to have a sleep study Reasons not to have a sleep study
- You have symptoms of sleep apnea, particularly excessive snoring and daytime sleepiness.
- A sleep study that is performed in a qualified sleep lab is the only sure way to diagnose sleep apnea.
- Correct diagnosis leads to early treatment of sleep apnea that can reduce your symptoms and risk for complications such as high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.
- A complete sleep test can rule out other sleep-related problems, such as narcolepsy or periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
- No risks are involved in undergoing a sleep study.
Are there other reasons you might want to have a complete sleep study?
- You snore but do not have other symptoms of sleep apnea.
- You have mild sleep apnea. Treatment of mild sleep apnea may not reduce your symptoms or your risk of complications.
- You are not comfortable with the treatment options for sleep apnea and may not seek treatment if you are diagnosed with it.
- You are willing to try lifestyle changes (such as weight loss) to reduce your snoring and mild sleep apnea.
- Sleep study results on older adults are more difficult to interpret than the results of younger people.
Are there other reasons you might not want to have a sleep study?
These personal stories may help you make your decision.
Wise Health Decision
Use this worksheet to help you make your decision. After completing it, you should have a better idea of how you feel about having a complete sleep study. Discuss the worksheet with your doctor.
Circle the answer that best applies to you.
I snore, and daytime sleepiness is affecting my work, health, or family relationships.
Yes No Unsure I would hesitate to undergo treatment for sleep apnea if my sleep study shows I have the condition.
Yes No Unsure I snore, but I am free of all other symptoms of sleep apnea, including being tired during the day.
Yes No Unsure I worry about having sleep apnea and developing complications such as high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.
Yes No Unsure If I am diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, I am concerned about receiving treatment that may or may not be effective.
Yes No Unsure I would like to try to lose weight (if needed) and try other means to help me snore less and perhaps sleep better.
Yes No Unsure Use the following space to list any other important concerns you have about this decision.
What is your overall impression?
Your answers in the above worksheet are meant to give you a general idea of where you stand on this decision. You may have one overriding reason to have or not have a sleep study.
Check the box below that represents your overall impression about your decision.
Leaning toward having a sleep study
Leaning toward NOT having a sleep study
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS Ralph Poore | Last Updated: September 4, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders | |
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