Do I Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

When you are noticed to have snoring during sleep and daytime sleepiness, you should consult a doctor to evaluate any risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Other common complaints can be divided into night time and daytime symptoms:

​Night time

1. Loud or disruptive snoring
2. Witnessed episodes of breathing pause
3. Choking and awakening with difficulty in breathing during sleep
4. Restless sleep
5. Go to washroom frequently

Day time

1. Non refreshing sleep
2. Early morning headache
3. Fatigue and sleepiness in daily activities
4. Poor concentration
5. Mood changes and irritable
6. Decreased sexual drive

Overnight Sleep Tests – what are my options?

​The option is to undergo overnight sleep test in sleep laboratory with an attending sleep technician throughout the night – Polysomnography (PSG). It consists of several wires connecting to your body to record your brain electrical activity; eye, chin and leg muscles movement; heartbeats; respiratory airflow and movement; oxygen saturation during sleep.

If you have poor sleep quality in laboratory environment, you can ask the technician to connect the wires at home and have the unattended PSG at your own bedroom.

If you have poor sleep quality in laboratory environment, you can ask the technician to connect the wires at home and have the unattended PSG at your own bedroom.

Dr Joseph Chung, ENT Consultant, Hong Kong