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Telehealth care is available in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, and New York. You must be in your selected state during the visit.
For general educational purposes only, not a substitute for specific medical advice. Consult with a licensed provider before implementing any adjustments to your treatment regimen.
Loud snoring is often treated as a joke, but combined with daytime exhaustion it can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is common, often goes undiagnosed and is very treatable once it is found. Here is what to look for and how testing works.
What Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is
In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. Breathing becomes shallow or stops for short periods, oxygen levels can drop and the brain briefly wakes you to restart breathing. Most people do not remember these awakenings, but they break up sleep many times an hour.
Common Signs
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing, gasping or choking noticed by a bed partner
- Waking up unrefreshed even after a full night in bed
- Daytime sleepiness, including dozing off while reading, watching TV or driving
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth
- Waking at night to urinate
- Trouble concentrating, irritability or low mood
Not everyone with sleep apnea snores loudly, and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. That is why testing matters.
Who Is at Higher Risk
Sleep apnea is more common with excess weight, a larger neck size, older age, a family history of sleep apnea, nasal congestion and the use of alcohol or sedating medications at night. It is more common in men, and the risk rises for women after menopause. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and atrial fibrillation are also linked with it.
How Testing Works
An evaluation starts with your sleep history, symptoms, medications and health conditions. Short questionnaires about snoring and daytime sleepiness help estimate the likelihood of sleep apnea. If testing is needed, there are two main options:
- Home sleep apnea test. You wear a small device overnight in your own bed that records breathing, oxygen levels and heart rate. It works well for many adults with a high likelihood of moderate to severe sleep apnea and no major heart, lung or neuromuscular conditions.
- In-lab sleep study. An overnight study at a sleep center records brain activity, breathing, oxygen, heart rhythm and movement. It may be recommended if a home test is not a good fit, if a home test is negative but symptoms continue, or if another sleep disorder is suspected.
Results are often reported as the number of breathing events per hour of sleep, which helps classify sleep apnea as mild, moderate or severe. Some insurance plans require prior authorization for sleep testing.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on severity, symptoms and your preferences. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea and keeps the airway open with gentle air pressure. Other options include custom oral appliances made by a dentist, changes in sleep position, weight management, treatment of nasal congestion and, for some people, surgical options. A weight-management medication is also approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in some adults with obesity.
Why It Is Worth Treating
Untreated sleep apnea is linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, type 2 diabetes and drowsy-driving crashes. Many people also notice better energy, focus and mood once it is treated. Do not drive or operate equipment if you might fall asleep, and seek emergency care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath or other urgent symptoms.
The Short Answer
Loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing and daytime sleepiness are good reasons to ask about sleep apnea. A telehealth visit can review your symptoms, arrange a home or in-lab sleep test, go over the results with you and coordinate treatment or specialist care.
Learn more on our sleep evaluation page.
Get Support
Wade’s Care First provides telehealth care in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada and New York, with same-day appointments when available. Visits are with Charles Wade, FNP-BC, a board-certified family nurse practitioner.
We accept many major insurance plans, including Original Medicare (Indiana only), Medicaid (Indiana and Illinois only), UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana and Cigna. Plan participation varies by state, and self-pay visits are available.
If you or your partner have noticed snoring, pauses in breathing or constant tiredness, a sleep evaluation is a simple place to start.
Book at wadescarefirst.com.
Answers connected to this topic.
What are common signs of obstructive sleep apnea?
Loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, gasping, morning headaches and daytime sleepiness can suggest obstructive sleep apnea. A clinical evaluation and appropriate sleep testing are used to confirm the diagnosis; symptoms alone are not enough.
Are home sleep-apnea tests right for everyone?
No. Home testing suits certain patients, while others need laboratory-based testing depending on medical conditions, symptoms and suspected sleep disorder.
When does sleepiness become a safety emergency?
Do not drive or operate hazardous equipment if you may fall asleep. Severe or sudden symptoms, especially with other concerning signs, need prompt medical assessment.
Further reading: nhlbi.nih.gov · nhlbi.nih.gov (diagnosis) · medlineplus.gov.
