Signs of sleep apnea

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are diagnosed by a sleep test. Your sleep test will diagnose your sleep apnea as mild, moderate or severe depending on how many apnea events you have per hour. An event is complete or partial loss of breath for 10 seconds or longer. Complete loss of breath is called an apnea. Partial loss of breath is called a hypopnea.

• Normal sleep: fewer than 5 events per hour

• Mild sleep apnea between 5 and 14 events per hour

• Moderate sleep apnea: 15 to 29 events per hour

• Severe sleep apnea: 30 or more events per hour

If your sleep apnea has been diagnosed as moderate to severe, you are at risk of long term health problems if it’s left untreated. There are a number of treatment options you can consider to relieve your symptoms. Lifestyle changes may also be recommended.

Unlike moderate to severe sleep apnea, mild obstructive sleep apnea has less risk attached to it and is often successfully managed with lifestyle changes and regular follow-up monitoring.² If these measures don’t improve your symptoms, then it may be time to consider treatment.

If you’re diagnosed with central sleep apnea and you have no noticeable symptoms, your doctor will most likely recommend lifestyle changes as the first option, or a breathing device if the condition is more severe. Central sleep apnea is often associated with other conditions, so treatment of those conditions is an important part of therapy.