Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
In order to clinically diagnose sleep apnea, a polysomnogram (PSG) is normally used. The PSG is a set of instruments that monitors many of your body functions, including:
- Brain activity (using an electroencephalogram (EEG))
- Chest and abdomen movement and air flow
- Oxygen saturation
- Chin and leg movements
- Eye movements to diagnose the onset of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep
- Heart rate and rhythm
These are used to diagnose how long it takes for you to fall asleep, and how long you spend at each stage of sleep, rated as 1,2,3,4, and REM stages. They will also record the frequency of your breathing interruptions, and how severe the interruptions’ impact on your body, noting how low your oxygen saturation falls at each interruption.
Preparing for Your PSG
In order to prepare for your PSG, make sure you do not drink any alcohol or caffeinated beverages, and you should not take any sleeping medication as these can skew the results. The goal is to get an accurate picture of your normal sleep pattern. You can improve these results by constructing a Sleep Diary prior to your PSG and assembling observations from your sleep partner or others who have observed your sleep patterns.
Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep for at least 10 seconds, and at least 5 times in an hour.
But there is help out there!
You may be asked to rate your tiredness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and other subjective diagnostic tests. You may also be asked about your medical and family history. In some cases, it may be necessary to utilize other diagnostic tools, including an MRI and a physical exam.
Treatment Diagnosis
The goal of diagnosing your sleep apnea is to determine a course of sleep apnea treatment. During a second diagnostic session, Dr. Shapira will determine the ideal course of treatment. Using the titration protocol he designed with modifications based on the research of sleep apnea professionals Dr. Hart and Dr. Masse, Dr Shapira will fine-tune your treatment while you sleep to ensure that you are receiving maximum correction of your sleep apnea. In general, this involves using the Thornton Adjustable Positioner, which is the only sleep appliance that can be modified while you sleep.
To learn more about the diagnosis of sleep apnea, contact us at the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center in Gurnee, Illinois, for a free initial consultation.
| Delany Dental Center | Schaumburg Dental Center | |
| 1810 Delany Road | 129 S. Roselle Road | |
| Gurnee, IL 60031 | Schaumburg, IL 60193 | |
| 1-8-NO-PAP-MASK | 1-8-NO-PAP-MASK | |
| (1-866-727-6275) | (1-866-727-6275) | |
| OR 847-623-5530 | OR 847-623-5530 | |
| American Sleep Medical Center | Sleep & Behavioral Medical Institute | |
| 8930 Gross Point Rd. Ste 700 | 2151 Waukegan Rd. Ste 120 | |
| Skokie, IL 60077 | Bannockburn, IL 60015 | |
| 1-8-NO-PAP-MASK | 1-8-NO-PAP-MASK | |
| (1-866-727-6275) | (1-866-727-6275) | |
| OR 847-623-5530 | OR 847-623-5530 | |
