Sleep Apnea Testing

Sleep apnea is a common but under-diagnosed disorder — pauses in breathing during sleep that disrupt rest and affect daytime health. We support diagnosis so you can get the right treatment.

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Understanding the Condition

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea (also spelled sleep apnoea) is a sleep disorder characterised by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Each pause can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and can happen many times a night. In the most common form it follows loud snoring, with a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes.

Because it disrupts normal sleep, those affected may feel sleepy or tired during the day. In children it may cause problems at school, or hyperactivity. Many people are not aware they have it — it is often first noticed by a family member.

Types

Three Forms of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive (OSA)

The most common form — breathing is interrupted by a physical blockage of airflow. Risk factors include being overweight, family history, allergies, a small airway, and enlarged tonsils.

Central (CSA)

Breathing stops due to a lack of effort to breathe — the brain does not send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Mixed

A combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea, sharing features of both forms.

Sleep apnea is often diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. For a diagnosis, more than five breathing episodes per hour must occur.