Which Doctor Should You See For Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is an important sleep disorder that occurs when breathing repeatedly stops or decreases during sleep. The person may not notice this situation during the night; however, they may experience symptoms such as waking up tired in the morning, headache, daytime sleepiness, attention problems, and loud snoring.

When these symptoms occur, applying to the right specialty is important for the diagnosis and treatment process to progress properly. Neurology and pulmonology departments most commonly play a role in sleep apnea evaluation. In some cases, ear, nose and throat, cardiology, or internal medicine evaluation may also be included in the process.

Sleep apnea should not be considered only as “snoring.” A decrease in oxygen level during sleep, the effect on heart rhythm, and frequent interruption of sleep can seriously reduce a person’s quality of daily life. Therefore, if symptoms continue, evaluation with a sleep test may be required.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is when a person’s breathing stops or significantly decreases at certain intervals during sleep. This condition can repeat many times throughout the night, and the person is often unaware of these interruptions. However, because sleep is interrupted, waking up unrested in the morning and daytime fatigue may occur.

Sleep apnea can develop for different reasons. In the most common form, the upper airway narrows or temporarily closes during sleep. Therefore, the body cannot receive enough oxygen, the brain directs the person to breathe again with short-term alerts, and sleep quality is disrupted.

In suspected sleep apnea, looking only at symptoms is not enough for diagnosis. Data such as breathing, oxygen level, heart rhythm, snoring, and sleep position throughout the night should be evaluated. This evaluation is usually performed with a sleep test.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea symptoms may appear both at night and during the day. Nighttime symptoms are usually noticed by people sleeping next to the person, while daytime symptoms can affect the person’s quality of life and work performance.

The severity of symptoms may vary from person to person. While some people only experience snoring, nighttime breathing pauses, waking up as if choking, and intense daytime sleepiness may be more prominent in others.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring: Especially interrupted, irregular snoring accompanied by breathing pauses should be evaluated for sleep apnea.
• Breathing pauses during sleep: The person’s breathing may stop for short periods during the night. This is usually noticed by relatives.
• Waking up as if choking: Waking up suddenly at night while trying to breathe may indicate that breathing is strained during sleep.
• Waking up tired in the morning: The person may feel unrested even if they sleep for a sufficient amount of time.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness: Sleepiness may occur in meetings, vehicles, at work, or during daily activities.
• Morning headache: Changes in oxygen levels throughout the night may accompany morning headaches.
• Attention and memory problems: Poor quality sleep may cause difficulty focusing and forgetfulness.

Which Department Should You See For Sleep Apnea?

The main departments to consult in suspected sleep apnea are neurology and pulmonology. These two specialties may play different roles in the evaluation of sleep disorders. Which department will be prioritized may vary according to the person’s complaints, accompanying diseases, and sleep test need.

In some people, breathing-related complaints are more prominent, while in others, sleep pattern, daytime sleepiness, neurological symptoms, or different sleep disorders may stand out. Therefore, specialty selection should be evaluated individually.

Departments that may be evaluated in the sleep apnea process include:

• Neurology: It may play a role in evaluating sleep disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, movements during sleep, sleep quality, and conditions related to the nervous system.
• Pulmonology: It is important in evaluating sleep-related breathing pauses, snoring, oxygen decrease, shortness of breath, and respiratory system-related sleep problems.
• Ear, nose and throat: It may evaluate conditions such as nasal congestion, adenoids, enlarged tonsils, jaw-facial structure, or upper airway narrowing.
• Cardiology: It may be included in the process in cases of blood pressure, rhythm disorder, or cardiovascular system-related risks accompanying sleep apnea.
• Internal medicine: It may have a supportive role in cases where weight, metabolism, diabetes, blood pressure, and general health status need to be evaluated.

What Does Neurology Do In Sleep Apnea?

Neurology is an important department in evaluating sleep pattern, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and some neurological symptoms that occur during sleep. In suspected sleep apnea, neurology evaluation may focus not only on breathing pauses but also on the general structure of sleep.

If the person experiences daytime sleepiness even though they think they sleep enough at night, wakes up unrested, or has different movements, restlessness, or sudden awakenings during sleep, neurology evaluation may be required.

The following points may be addressed in neurology evaluation:

• Sleep quality: Whether the person’s night sleep is interrupted and whether they wake up rested in the morning are evaluated.
• Daytime sleepiness: Uncontrollable need for sleep, attention loss, and performance decrease during the day may be questioned.
• Sleep disorders: Restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, or different sleep disorders other than sleep apnea may be distinguished.
• Sleep test need: According to complaints, a home sleep test or a more comprehensive sleep evaluation may be planned.
• Test result evaluation: Sleep test data may be interpreted together with the person’s symptoms.

What Does Pulmonology Do In Sleep Apnea?

Pulmonology is one of the main specialties that evaluates how breathing progresses during sleep. Pulmonology evaluation is important especially in complaints such as snoring, breathing pauses during sleep, oxygen decrease, nighttime shortness of breath, and daytime fatigue.

Sleep apnea is closely related to the airways and lung health. If the person has chronic respiratory disease, shortness of breath, oxygen decrease, or irregular breathing throughout the night, pulmonology can address this process in detail.

The following points may stand out in pulmonology evaluation:

• Breathing pauses: How often breathing stops or decreases during sleep is evaluated.
• Oxygen level: Whether there is an oxygen decrease throughout the night is examined.
• Snoring and airway obstruction: The relationship between snoring and breathing may be evaluated.
• Sleep test planning: In suspected sleep apnea, a home sleep test or different test options may come into consideration.
• Device treatment evaluation: According to the test result, the suitability of devices such as CPAP, APAP, or BPAP may be evaluated.

Which Doctor Requests A Sleep Test?

A sleep test may be requested by neurology, pulmonology, or another relevant specialist according to the person’s complaints. The test decision is evaluated not only according to the presence of snoring but also according to suspected breathing pauses during sleep, daytime sleepiness, morning fatigue, and oxygen decrease.

A sleep test enables the recording of breathing and data that affect sleep quality during sleep. Therefore, it is an important part of the diagnostic process. As a result of the test, clearer information can be obtained about sleep apnea, snoring-related respiratory disorders, or different sleep problems.

A sleep test may be requested in the following situations:

• If breathing pauses during sleep are suspected
• If loud and irregular snoring is seen
• If waking up tired in the morning is frequent
• If there is intense daytime sleepiness
• If waking up as if choking occurs at night
• If oxygen decrease or respiratory problem is considered
• If whether device treatment is required is to be evaluated

How Does A Home Sleep Test Help Doctor Evaluation?

A home sleep test allows data to be recorded throughout the night in the person’s natural sleep environment. Thanks to this test, information such as airflow, oxygen level, heart rhythm, snoring, sleep position, and body movements can be evaluated.

In doctor evaluation, these data are considered together with the person’s complaints. Thus, instead of general statements such as “there is snoring” or “sleep is interrupted,” how breathing progresses throughout the night can be seen more objectively.

A home sleep test may contribute to evaluation in the following ways:

• It provides data in the natural sleep environment: Since the person sleeps in their own bed, the sleep pattern can be observed more naturally.
• It shows breathing pauses: Breathing pauses or decreases in breathing throughout the night can be recorded.
• It shows oxygen changes: Whether there is a decrease in oxygen level during sleep can be evaluated.
• It monitors snoring level: The relationship between snoring and respiratory disorder can be examined.
• It sheds light on device need: According to the test result, whether device use is required can be evaluated.

Who Decides On Device Use After A Sleep Test?

Device use after a sleep test is determined by specialist evaluation of the test result and the person’s clinical condition. It is not correct for the person to choose a device on their own. Because device type, pressure setting, mask selection, and usage duration should be planned individually.

If device use is required, options such as CPAP, APAP, or BPAP may come into consideration. Which device is suitable is determined according to the degree of sleep apnea, oxygen level, breathing pattern, accompanying diseases, and the person’s usage comfort.

The following points may be considered when deciding on a device:

• Whether sleep apnea is mild, moderate, or severe
• Decreases in oxygen level throughout the night
• Frequency of breathing pauses
• Findings of snoring and airway obstruction
• The person’s mask and pressure tolerance
• Accompanying heart, lung, or metabolic diseases
• Regular follow-up need

When Should A Sleep Test Be Done If There Are Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

If sleep apnea symptoms have been continuing for a long time, affect the person’s daily life, or breathing pauses during sleep are noticed by relatives, a sleep test should not be delayed. Evaluation becomes especially important if daytime sleepiness, decreased attention, and morning fatigue are prominent.

Trying to use a device without a sleep apnea diagnosis or looking only for temporary solutions to reduce snoring may not be enough. First, it is necessary to understand what happens during sleep, and then to create the appropriate treatment or follow-up plan.

A sleep test should especially be considered in the following situations:

• If snoring is regular and loud
• If breathing pauses are noticed during sleep
• If the person wakes up tired in the morning
• If there is daytime sleepiness or attention problems
• If frequent awakenings and waking up as if choking occur at night
• If blood pressure, weight problem, or respiratory disease accompanies
• If a device was previously recommended but proper evaluation was not performed

Manage Your Sleep Process Better With Happ Health

In suspected sleep apnea, applying to the right specialty, planning the sleep test process, and managing post-test steps consciously are important. Neurology and pulmonology evaluation may guide the diagnosis and follow-up process according to the person’s complaints.

Happ Health is positioned as a digital health platform that offers an integrated experience in the home sleep test process, from appointment planning to device delivery, from data recording throughout the night to post-test evaluation and control steps. It facilitates access to healthcare services from home or remotely in complaints such as suspected sleep apnea, snoring, nighttime breathing pauses, or daytime sleepiness.

If you have sleep apnea symptoms, you can plan your home sleep test process through Happ Health and receive support about post-test evaluation, device need, and the follow-up process.