Don't underestimate feeling unrested Sleep Test diagnoses and prevents life-threatening risks

Feeling unrefreshed after sleep, not refreshed upon waking, daytime drowsiness, falling asleep while driving, and short attention span may be warning signs of sleep problems. These could result from snoring or sleep apnea. If left untreated without diagnosis, it can be dangerous. Especially if caused by sleep apnea, worsening symptoms can harm the heart, leading to oxygen deprivation or heart failure during sleep, potentially resulting in death. To determine if you have sleep apnea and its severity, a doctor can perform a Sleep Test.

What is a Sleep Test and how is it performed?

A Sleep Test is a sleep examination, mostly used for patients consulting doctors about snoring and sleep apnea due to symptoms of unrefreshing sleep and daytime problems. The test helps determine whether the patient has snoring or sleep apnea. The principles and procedures of the Sleep Test are as follows:

• The Sleep Test includes brain wave monitoring to see the sleep stage—deep sleep, light sleep, or REM sleep. Heart rate is monitored to check if it is slow, fast, irregular, or stopped. Muscle activity is also checked for seizures, spasms, twitches, or convulsions, as some patients may have seizures during sleep.
• The Sleep Test assesses respiratory function, checking if breathing through the nose is normal during sleep. If breathing is mostly or only through the mouth, it indicates nasal problems such as allergies, deviated septum, or nasal swelling. It also monitors chest and abdominal movements and counts how many times breathing stops during sleep, at what times, and the frequency. It also notes whether apnea occurs more when sleeping on the side, back, or stomach.
• Normally, breathing stops no more than 5 times per hour. If the Sleep Test shows fewer than 5 apnea events per hour, it indicates snoring. If more than 5 times per hour, it indicates sleep apnea.
• If the Sleep Test shows 5-15 apnea events per hour, it is mild sleep apnea. Between 15-30 times per hour is moderate severity, and over 30 times per hour is severe. Moderate to severe sleep apnea can affect the heart, causing heart attacks, oxygen deprivation during sleep, and even death.
• Before the Sleep Test, patients must not be ill, have a cold, or throat infection. If unable to sleep during the test, patients should inform the doctor or nurse to receive sleeping medication, as the test cannot be performed without sleep. The test duration may be one or two nights, depending on the patient’s condition.

Why do snoring and sleep apnea occur?

The main causes of snoring and sleep apnea are differences in body structure. Some patients have narrow oral cavities, large tonsils, a relaxed palate, or an enlarged tongue base, increasing the risk of snoring and sleep apnea due to airway obstruction. In some cases, nasal and facial abnormalities such as allergies, deviated septum, or crooked nose cause breathing difficulties. People with a short chin or enlarged tongue base may have the tongue pushed backward, blocking the airway and causing breathing problems. The Sleep Test helps determine if a person has snoring or sleep apnea and the severity, guiding appropriate treatment.

How to treat snoring or sleep apnea?

When a Sleep Test shows abnormalities, treatment for snoring mainly involves lifestyle and behavioral changes, such as weight loss, changing sleep positions (avoiding sleeping on the back to prevent airway obstruction), and avoiding central nervous system depressants like alcohol, sleeping pills, sedatives, and antihistamines.

For sleep apnea, if the Sleep Test shows more than 20 apnea events per hour, doctors will treat with a breathing assistance device, which is 90-99% effective. However, some patients may find it uncomfortable and inconvenient to use the device during sleep, so surgery may be an option. Surgical methods vary depending on the severity of sleep apnea and the structural abnormalities of the face, nose, and mouth. Regardless of treatment with a breathing device or surgery, weight loss and exercise are necessary to strengthen the body and improve treatment effectiveness.

If you or someone close to you snores loudly, feels unrefreshed after sleep, has poor concentration, and experiences persistent daytime drowsiness, it may indicate snoring or sleep apnea. You should consult a doctor and undergo a Sleep Test to diagnose the cause and plan treatment to prevent worsening symptoms, which could lead to accidents and life-threatening dangers from sleep apnea.