Blocked Air Passage

While it is generally understood that a blockage of some type in the respiratory passage is responsible for sleep apnea, it can be difficult to specifically diagnose what is causing the blockage. Typically, the main culprit is the tongue, which falls back into the throat due to loss of muscle tone during sleep and gravity. Sometimes, the other parts of the oral cavity can cause the blockage as well, again, from loss of muscle tone. Some people are more prone to obstructions due to variations in anatomy.

When the obstruction lasts long enough or occurs frequently enough, it can cause oxygen deprivation to the body. Consequences of sleep apnea range from mild to severe. Some patients may feel constantly tired, because they were unable to sleep properly at night. In the long term, oxygen deprivation can cause high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disorders.

Getting a Diagnosis

Identifying the problem can be difficult for a doctor during a regular consultation. That is why a sleep study program is the best option for assessing the situation. While sleep study programs conducted in the lab may allow the doctor to study your problem closely, many times, a home program is as, or more, beneficial.

A home testing program has many benefits. It is conducted in a familiar place that you will be most comfortable in, ensuring that you’ll receive the best possible monitoring. Also, you can set up the instrumentation with a few simple instructions. For patients who are in good health, apart from the problem of snoring, a home testing program may not only be sufficient, but preferred.

Sleep apnea testing will keep track of your vital signs as you sleep. These include oxygen levels, breathing rate, heart beat, and other factors. The instruments will collect the data and store it for your doctor to examine.

While both lab testing and home testing are great options, doctors will base their recommendations on several factors. If you have serious underlying conditions other than sleep apnea, testing without medical supervision may not offer much insight.

If your doctor suspects, or knows that you have problems such as respiratory difficulties, degeneration of muscles or nerves, or lung disease, then lab testing may be the preferred choice.

Contact Our Office

To learn more sleep apnea and the steps you can take to diagnose and treat it, contact The Snore Experts today to schedule a consultation. We can help you find relief from your condition.