How To Diagnose Sleep Apnea | Diagnosing

Sleep apnea can go unnoticed for decades, but there are ways to diagnose sleep disorder and there are a couple of simple ideas to assist you in diagnosing sleep apnea.

Before consulting your doctor or sleep specialist, there are a couple of things you can do, to decide for yourself if you have symptoms of sleep apnea and to which extent.

• You can keep a sleep diary.  For a few consecutive nights, you or your partner can monitor the levels of snoring, as well as how soundly you sleep, and whether or not you are experiencing problems breathing, which can be noted through choking or gasping.  Also, note down whether or not you feel refreshed and awake in the morning.
• Record yourself during sleep.  You may wish to record yourself audibly as well as visually to monitor how well you are sleeping, and how loudly you are snoring.  It will also prove useful when visiting your doctor.  You can use sound recording software from your computer, or set up a webcam.

With this sleep information at hand, you can now consult your doctor or sleep specialist, which will prove extremely helpful in deciding if you in fact have sleep apnea, and also the extent of it.  If your doctor suspects you suffer from the sleep disorder, you will typically be sent to an overnight sleep clinic, which monitors how regularly your breathing is restricted.  Treatment can then be offered, following the results of the sleep clinic tests.

These are a few hints and tips to help you to diagnose sleep apnea and making a better diagnosis.