How Do You Know if You Have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be a tricky thing to diagnose. The lucky ones have a partner who pays attention to them while they're sleeping and can tell when they've stopped breathing. But if you live alone, or your partner is a deep sleeper themselves, determining whether or not you have sleep apnea or if something else is keeping you from sleeping properly can be very difficult.

The major symptom of sleep apnea is simple: you're tired no matter how long you sleep. But there are other things that can cause the same symptom, so you'll have to look for a few additional factors to make the diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Here are some other common symptoms related to this condition:

• Morning headaches
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
• Insomnia or frequent nighttime awakenings
• Moodiness, irritability, or depression
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
• Waking up feeling out of breath

Children with sleep apnea may also exhibit additional symptoms:

• Hyperactivity or inattention
• Decrease in school performance
• Developmental and growth problems
• Breathing through mouth instead of nose
• Irritable, angry, or hostile behavior

If you're still not sure, try keeping a sleep diary. Record each night how long you slept, how many times you woke up, and how sleepy you were the next day. If you fall asleep during normal activities, make a note of that. If you find that you're waking up more than twice each night or that you for more than three days in a row without getting restful sleep, you need to talk to an expert.

Finally, if even the diary leaves you uncertain, there's one definite way to figure out once and for all whether you have sleep apnea; record yourself while you sleep. Record one night all the way through, and then listen to it one hour at a time over the next week. Write down every time you hear your breathing stop for 10 seconds or more at a time. If you get a number above a dozen, you have sleep apnea and you need to seek medical help.

In addition to dental services, Drs. Johnson and Risbrudt offer solutions for sleep apnea and snoring. Stop by our office today and start sleeping well at night.