Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, risk factors, and whether you have a family history of sleep apnea.
Sleep study
Your healthcare provider will ask you to see a sleep specialist or go to a center for a sleep study. Sleep studies can help diagnose which type of sleep apnea you have and how serious it is.
Sleep diary
A sleep diary can help you track how long and how well you sleep, as well as how sleepy you feel during the day. These details can help your provider diagnose your condition.
See a sample sleep diary.
Tests to look for other medical conditions
Your provider may order additional tests to check for other medical conditions that can cause sleep apnea. For example, they may order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone levels or check for (PCOS).
Your provider will also ask if you are using medicines, such as opioids, that could affect your sleep or cause breathing symptoms related to sleep apnea. They may also ask whether you have recently traveled to altitudes greater than 6,000 feet. Low oxygen environments can cause sleep apnea symptoms for a few weeks after traveling.