Trouble sleeping through the night? - Comfortable testing for sleep apnea at home

You have trouble sleeping through the night, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, as well as:

• Waking up feeling choked, gasping, or out of breath
• Morning headaches, dry mouth, or sore throat
• Frequent waking during sleep to urinate
• Dizziness
• Memory loss and difficulty concentrating

You may be experiencing sleep apnea.

According to Dr. Trần Phạm Hải, who has over 15 years of experience treating respiratory diseases and sleep disorders, and holds advanced training certificates in respiratory medicine from France:

"Sleep apnea reduces sleep quality, leading to fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness, which increases the risk of traffic accidents, workplace incidents, and other accidents. It also causes decreased blood oxygen levels, resulting in metabolic disorders, elevated blood pressure, and further cardiovascular complications such as heart attack, stroke, and brain hemorrhage."

Dr. Hải added that many patients with these symptoms often ignore them or receive inadequate treatment, allowing the condition to worsen over time. The diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea should be handled by an experienced respiratory and sleep specialist.

At Hanoi French Hospital, our team of internationally trained doctors offers various effective and convenient methods for assessing sleep disorders, including:

• Polysomnography: The most comprehensive method, measuring breathing, airflow, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, brain waves during different sleep stages, body position, and muscle movement. It helps diagnose conditions such as obesity hypoventilation syndrome, chronic respiratory failure from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restless leg syndrome, and other sleep disorders. Doctors may also order additional tests like X-rays, CT scans, or pulmonary function tests to rule out other causes of breathing difficulties.
• Home sleep testing: In some cases, a doctor may recommend a respiratory polygraphy test to be performed at home to diagnose sleep apnea. This test typically includes parameters such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, nasal airflow, and chest and abdominal movements. If you have sleep apnea, the results will show a high apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation events, and arrhythmias during apneas or hypopneas.

Based on these results, our multidisciplinary team of respiratory, ENT, and other specialists will develop the most effective treatment plan, which may include:

• Surgery to remove blockages in the upper airway if necessary
• Consultation with an oral and maxillofacial specialist for advice on using an oral appliance to move the jaw forward during sleep
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which keeps the airway open with pressure from a CPAP machine. The machine's pressure is adjusted based on your polysomnography results and personal use, ensuring it’s tailored to each patient.

If you need a consultation for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, please contact our hotline at 024.35771100 or inbox our fan page "Hanoi French Hospital" or Zalo official account at zalo.me/2008009049335817955 for timely support.