Clearing Sleep Apnea’s Hurdles
The 400m hurdles is one of the hardest Olympic races. Why? Because not only do hurdlers need the speed to win the race, but they also need the endurance and efficiency to clear each hurdle. Some might say the biggest hurdle is the first one. You’re trying to establish a rhythm after all, and that’s usually the case in treating sleep apnea. The biggest hurdle to treating sleep apnea is often diagnosis.
Finding the Diagnostic Rhythm
The first obstacle to beginning treatment for sleep apnea is also arguably the biggest: diagnosis. A study from Washington University School of Medicine posits that “Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 20% of US adults, of whom about 90% are undiagnosed.”
What can we learn from great hurdlers? Finding the right rhythm. In sleep apnea diagnosis, this means recognizing the signs and doing something about it.
Sleep Apnea Patterns
Like getting the hang of clearing hurdles, identifying sleep apnea symptoms is about noticing cadence. Sleep apnea is characterized by irregular:
- Sleep times
- Interruptions
- Sleep states
- Sleep posture
- Oxygen levels
How to Identify Sleep Apnea
Diagnosis is a roadblock for thousands of people who live with sleep apnea. Some effort can be given to monitoring sleep times, interruptions, and posture but it won’t ever be fool proof. Plus, auditing your interruptions, sleep states, and oxygen levels is impossible without an expert and diagnostic tools.
For more information about sleep apnea diagnosis and undergoing a sleep study (in-lab or take home), contact our offices to schedule a consultation.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment
For more information on sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, call Dr. David Buck’s office at 425-361-7499 to schedule a consultation.
