Sleep Apena
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Doctors estimate that obstructive sleep apnea affects 4% of men and 2% of woman. However, only around 10% of sleep apnea suffers are receiving any sort of treatment for the condition. It is likely that cases of sleep apnea are on the rise as obesity rises, because obesity worsens obstructive sleep apnea. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms like heavy snoring or interrupted sleep due to a cessation in breathing during the night, it may be time to look at some of the techniques used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a test anyone can use to evaluate for sleep apnea by rating the likeliness of falling asleep during specific activities using a scale a 0 - 3 where 0 is unlikely and 3 is very likely. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale includes activities like reading while sitting, watching television, as a vehicle passenger for an hour without breaks, lying down to rest, holding a conversation while sitting and in a car stopped during traffic. A score of 0 - 9 represents average daytime sleepiness while a score 10 - 15 represents excessive daytime sleepiness and a score 16 or higher represents moderate to server daytime sleepiness. If you use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and find your daytime sleepiness is high, contact your doctor.
Doctors do not solely rely on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale but may use it in combination with a patient's medical history, which includes work performance, driving history, memory, tendency to fall asleep during meetings and napping as well as a physical examination. Physical exams look at parts of the airway including the septum and adenoid hypertrophy and back of the nose. Furthermore, the tonsils are examined in the mouth. Lastly, a procedure called nasopharyngoscopy is performed and a flexible camera tube is inserted into the airway.
Another method for diagnosing sleep apnea is polysomnography, or a sleep study. A sleep study measures various physical and physiological criteria while the test subject sleeps. A sleep study may include an EEG (electroencephalogram) as well as measurements of the airflow through the nose and mouth, audio recording of snoring and blood oxygen level measuring. This study tracks brain waves as well as eye movement during sleep and use the findings to determine whether the patient may be experiencing sleep apnea.
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