Should I have a sleep study to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea?
Key points in making your decision

The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although doctors use sleep studies to diagnose both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, this Decision Point focuses on obstructive sleep apnea.

Consider the following when making your decision

If you snore but do not have other symptoms of sleep apnea, you may not need a sleep study. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (if needed), sleeping on your side, and keeping a regular sleep schedule may reduce your snoring.

If you have symptoms of sleep apnea (particularly excessive snoring or daytime sleepiness), your doctor will probably suggest a polysomnography sleep study. Polysomnography is the only sure way to find out whether you have sleep apnea.
If you know that you have sleep apnea, you can treat it.

If you have mild sleep apnea, or more severe sleep apnea without daytime sleepiness, treatment may or may not reduce your symptoms and complications such as high blood pressure.

If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, treatment generally reduces symptoms of sleep apnea and may reduce your risk of complications.
Other factors that make sleep apnea more likely include using certain medicines or alcohol before bed, sleeping on your back, and being obese.

Why should I have a sleep study?

A sleep study can give you a positive diagnosis of sleep apnea. This is important because if sleep apnea is not diagnosed and treated, it can interfere with your quality of life. If you have sleep apnea, you may be at risk for excessive daytime sleepiness and complications such as high blood pressure, high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), depression, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Will treating sleep apnea help me?

Research shows that treating sleep apnea can reduce sleepiness. It may also improve blood pressure. For people with sleep apnea and coronary artery disease, treatment of sleep apnea can lower the risk of some problems such as heart failure.