How to Get an Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
If you suspect sleep apnea, getting a diagnosis is crucial, as untreated cases can lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Around 39 million U.S. adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but many remain undiagnosed, increasing their risk for severe medical conditions. The dangers of untreated sleep apnea are clear, raising the likelihood of stroke by four times and heart disease by three times. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential. iSLEEP offers two convenient methods to help you get a sleep apnea diagnosis.
Online Sleep Quiz
The first step is a user-friendly assessment quiz, designed to help determine if your symptoms might be related to sleep apnea. By completing the quiz, you’ll quickly gain insights into whether further evaluation is needed. This quiz offers an easy starting point for anyone concerned about their sleep health.
TAKE THE QUIZAt-Home Sleep Test
If your assessment suggests a more in-depth analysis, we offer an at-home sleep test. This test monitors key signals like heart rate, body position, and snoring intensity–all from the comfort of your own home. After completing the test, you'll receive a personalized report within 24 to 48 hours detailing your sleep results.
ORDER AN AT-HOME TESTiSLEEP Support
What sets us apart is our exceptional customer service and thorough sleep analysis. With 24/7 support, you’ll have access to experts whenever needed. Plus, our dedicated sleep coaches will review your results and help tailor a personalized treatment plan, making iSLEEP the ideal choice for diagnosing and managing sleep apnea.
CONTACT USWho is most affected?
Sleep apnea can result from various factors. Nearly 50% of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are overweight or obese. Anatomical features like a thick neck or enlarged tonsils, along with lifestyle habits like alcohol consumption and smoking, also contribute to the condition. Understanding these causes is key to effective diagnosis and treatment. Typical groups impacted by sleep apnea are:
RISKS OF UNDIAGNOSED SLEEP APNEA
Around 39 million U.S. adults suffer OSA, but many remain undiagnosed, increasing their risk for medical conditions and safety concerns like:
HOME SLEEP TEST COST
Find out how much a home sleep test costs, what insurance covers and how to purchase.
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SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSIS FAQS
Testing for sleep apnea typically involves a combination of assessments to determine the presence and severity of the condition. One of the first steps is often a sleep questionnaire or an assessment quiz, which can help identify symptoms and risk factors associated with sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is suspected, the most common diagnostic method is a sleep study, or polysomnography, which can take place in a sleep lab or at home.
In-lab studies monitor various parameters like brain activity, eye movement, heart rate, and oxygen levels overnight in a controlled environment. Home sleep tests, such as those offered by iSLEEP, are becoming increasingly popular; they allow patients to use portable monitoring devices to assess vital signs like heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels in the comfort of their own homes. This flexibility makes it easier for individuals to get tested and receive a diagnosis without the hassle of a hospital/sleep lab stay.
The diagnosis of sleep apnea is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, medical history, and objective data obtained from sleep studies. Common symptoms include loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation during sleep (apneas), excessive daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. Clinicians often refer to the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which quantifies the number of apneas and hypopneas (partial blockages of the airway) that occur per hour of sleep. AHI scores are classified as follows: normal (less than 5), mild sleep apnea (5-15), moderate sleep apnea (15-30), and severe sleep apnea (more than 30). Additionally, the presence of risk factors such as obesity, age, and certain anatomical features may also contribute to the diagnosis.
Sleep apnea as a recognized medical diagnosis began to take shape in the 1960s and 1970s. Before this time, the condition was often misunderstood or misdiagnosed, as symptoms like loud snoring and daytime sleepiness were attributed to other causes. The term "obstructive sleep apnea" was coined in the 1970s as researchers started to identify the distinct pattern of interrupted breathing during sleep. This led to increased awareness and research into the condition, culminating in the development of diagnostic methods such as polysomnography. By the 1980s, sleep apnea gained wider recognition as a serious health issue, prompting the medical community to take a more proactive approach in diagnosing and treating this common yet often overlooked disorder.