Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Individuals with OSA are rarely aware of having any breathing difficulty, even after waking up. Unless it is a case of severe sleep apnea, the problem is usually identified by a third person who witnesses the individual during episodes, or as a result of its side effects on the patient's body. OSA is commonly accompanied by a snoring problem that when properly treated, can be reduced or stopped.

Sleep apnea symptoms may be present for years or even decades without being identified. During this time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance and failure to attain the required REM sleep.

The average sleeper passes through a five-stage sleep cycle: stages 1, 2, 3, 4 (deep sleep), and 20% of the time REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These stages progress cyclically from 1 through REM then begin again with stage 1. A complete natural sleep cycle takes an average of 90 to 110 minutes, but is interrupted in an individual suffering from OSA.

People who sleep alone without a long-term partner may not be aware of their sleep disorder symptoms. If you or someone you know snores regularly and has one or more of the following sleep disorder symptoms, share the information with your doctor.

Key signs and symptoms include: Excessive daytime sleepiness Loud or disruptive snoring Gasping or choking during sleep

Other common symptoms include: Grogginess and morning headaches Frequent urination at night Depression and irritability Obesity Large neck or crowding of the upper airway

Visit the Mount Sinai Medical Center website and take the Epworth Sleepiness Test to see if you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.

Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Undiagnosed people who do not get effective treatment for OSA can be at high risk for various sleep apnea side effects. The dangers of untreated sleep apnea include a range of serious health conditions and a detrimental effect on the individual's quality of life (because of the effects of sleep deprivation):

	High blood pressure
	Irregular heart rhythms or heart disease
	Heart attack
	Stroke
	Increased likelihood of driving or work-related accidents

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your first step in diagnosing sleep apnea should be to discuss sleep complaints and symptoms with your doctor. If a sleep disorder is suspected, your doctor will refer you to a sleep specialist for evaluation. A sleep disorder test (an overnight diagnostic sleep study known as a polysomnogram or PSG) will be conducted by a sleep specialist at a sleep clinic. The test may also be done using a home sleep study (although such tests are in very limited use at present). The sleep test is used to determine the type and severity of the apnea.

The most common form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. If the PSG reveals that you are suffering from sleep apnea your doctor will order a second test called a titration test which will allow the appropriate treatment to be prescribed. A CPAP or BiPAP machine will be used to keep your airway open during sleep, ensuring that you can get proper sleep. It will be prescribed by your physician, based on the results of the titration test. While PAP therapy will prevent sleep apnea risks and help you get a good night sleep, it is not a cure and you will have to maintain your therapy in order to benefit.

click here to learn more about OSA treatment.