If you have noticed that you are becoming a lot more tired during the daytime than usual, it may be possible that you are suffering from the disorder known as sleep apnea. If this is a possibility then it is important to have a sleep apnea test to find out the extent of the problem.
Apnea can sometimes be a very serious problem. If you do not get enough sleep at night then the next day you are more likely to be tired, irritable, and forgetful, but the actual physical condition of sleep apnea can be more worrisome. It occurs when the muscles in the airway become too relaxed and block the passage causing a halt in breathing for anywhere between five and thirty seconds. The result of this is a lack of oxygen being absorbed into the bloodstream; in turn this creates an emergency signal in the brain which makes the individual wake up and gulp down air.
Before you can get yourself admitted to a specialist sleep clinic for medical tests it may be sensible to ask a family member or friend to watch over you while you sleep. They should be able to observe any events associated with breathing problems. If you live alone then you could set up a web cam or video camera to record yourself while you are asleep.
At a sleep study test involves using an oximeter
If you believe that you might have apnea then you should make an appointment to see your doctor. They will conduct an examination of your throat and also conduct a number of tests. These tests are mostly used to check whether you have another problem but with similar symptoms.
Before your doctor will make a diagnosis of sleep apnea, he or she likely refer you to a sleep specialist center. Here they will carry out more advanced tests. One of which is to observe how long it takes you to fall asleep and how easy it is for you to do so.
At a sleep study test, certain procedures will be conducted while you are actually sleeping. There is a test that is fairly common which involves the use of an oximeter to see how much oxygen is in your blood while you are asleep. This device is attached to your finger and sends small pulses of light into your skin. The absorption rate is used to calculate the amount of oxygen.
One type of sleep apnea test uses a advanced form of monitoring that can be carried out while you are asleep. This is termed a polysomnograph. A number of electrodes will be placed on the body, these will then receive data relating to you heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and what sleep stages you experience.