Many people may not realize that the quality of sleep is a good indicator of health problems. If there are sleep issues, it can be a factor leading to various diseases in the future, such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, as well as mood swings and irritability. If you have the following warning signs, it means you are having sleep problems.
These problems… indicate the quality of your sleep
- People close to you say you snore loudly, grind your teeth, talk in your sleep, have leg twitching, and frequently have nightmares
- Snoring louder than normal speaking voice or loud enough to be heard outside the bedroom
- Snoring that stops and starts, frequently turning over in bed
- Feeling difficulty breathing and suspecting sleep apnea
- Difficulty falling asleep or regularly feeling unrefreshed after sleep
- Sleeping a lot but still feeling tired or frequently sleepy during the day
- Suddenly waking up startled, feeling exhausted and gasping for breath
- Having no concentration at work, almost falling asleep, or experiencing frequent accidents
All of these may be caused by sleep apnea, which is a dangerous sign leading to chronic diseases. To know whether these symptoms are directly related to snoring or upper airway obstruction during sleep, a test by a specialist in snoring or sleep apnea, called a Sleep Test, can provide the answer.
What is a Sleep Test?
A Sleep Test is an examination of the body’s functions during sleep by attaching various devices to capture signals from organs related to sleep quality, breathing, snoring, and importantly, to detect sleep apnea. This is done by a specialized medical team and technicians with expertise in sleep studies.
Procedure for Sleep Test to detect Obstructive Sleep Apnea
First, the doctor will take a history and ask about sleep and daily life problems, such as waking up unrefreshed, poor work performance, frequent daytime sleepiness, and any related chronic diseases. A physical examination will be performed. Then, the patient will be assigned to sleep in the Sleep Lab for one night. Staff will attach various devices to the head, face, nose, chin, chest, abdomen, fingertips, and both legs to capture body signals, especially those related to sleep, such as:
- Brain wave signals (EEG)
- Breathing in and out
- Snoring volume
- Oxygen levels
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Expansion of lungs and abdomen
- Eye muscle movements, chin muscles, and leg muscles
- In some cases, special tests such as video recording from CCTV may be used for evaluation
This sleep study or Sleep Test will indicate the severity and causes of poor sleep quality for accurate treatment. This method is internationally recognized for diagnosing sleep-related disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), muscle twitching, and abnormal sleep behaviors.
Therefore, those who have snoring problems, are overweight, have a neck circumference over 40 cm, or are suspected by doctors to have seizures during sleep or narcolepsy, as well as patients with heart disease, kidney failure, hypertension, diabetes, and those with unresolved or undiagnosed sleep disorders, should also undergo this test.
Analysis and Interpretation of Results
After receiving the Sleep Test results, the doctor will analyze and interpret the data to diagnose abnormalities and assess severity. This includes evaluating sleep apnea events, blood oxygen levels during sleep, abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep, limb twitching, sleepwalking, insomnia, and other disorders.
Importantly, the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) number indicates the severity of sleep apnea. It is calculated by the number of apnea events (complete airway blockage) and hypopnea events (partial airway blockage) divided by total sleep time, multiplied by 60, to get the number of airway obstruction events per hour. The severity levels are divided into four categories as follows:
- AHI less than 5 per hour means normal, no treatment needed
- AHI equal to or greater than 5 but less than 15 per hour means mild severity
- AHI equal to or greater than 15 but less than 30 per hour means moderate severity
- AHI equal to or greater than 30 per hour means severe
The doctor will plan treatment based on the results, in agreement with the patient.
Recommendations before undergoing a Sleep Test
- Consult a doctor before deciding to take the test
- Make an appointment with the hospital to prepare for the test day
- Shower and wash your hair before coming to the hospital; do not use oil, spray, or hair cream as it may interfere with attaching the devices on the head
- Avoid drinking coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test
- Avoid napping during the day of the test to ensure normal sleep at night
- Write down the names and dosages of all medications you are taking and bring them with you; inform the doctor or staff if you have any questions
The Sleep Test is effective and very safe because if any abnormalities are detected during the test, the staff monitoring you will immediately inform the doctor. Therefore, for long-term good health, reducing snoring problems, lowering the risk of chronic diseases, and making every morning bright and energetic, paying attention to sleep quality is important and should not be overlooked by anyone.
