Sleep Apnea Diagnosis Chicago

To diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will perform a physical exam and take a medical and sleep history.
You might also be asked to take a sleep test called a polysomnogram, or PSG. Sleep testing is performed overnight in a sleep lab and is supervised by a trained technologist.

The test will measure various body functions, including:

  • air flow
  • blood oxygen levels
  • breathing patterns
  • electrical activity of the brain
  • eye movements
  • heart rate
  • muscle activity

Also During your sleep study, the number of times you stop breathing in your sleep is recorded and calculated. These instances are called apneas or hypopneas. The AHI is is the number of apneas and hypopneas  recorded during the study per hour of sleep. It is generally expressed as the number of events per hour. Based on the AHI, the severity of OSA is classified as follows:

  • None/Minimal: AHI < 5 per hour
  • Mild: AHI ≥ 5, but < 15 per hour
  • Moderate: AHI ≥ 15, but < 30 per hour
  • Severe: AHI ≥ 30 per hour

A board-certified sleep physician will interpret the findings and identify the correct diagnosis.