Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Signs and Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Excessive daytime sleepiness is the cardinal symptom that should alert both the patient and the health care provider to suspect the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Excessive daytime sleepiness, however, may be attributed to conditions other than OSAS (e.g., chronic fatigue, restless legs syndrome, insomnia) and, therefore, by itself, cannot be used to establish a definitive diagnosis of OSAS.

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, other signs and symptoms of OSAS include:

• Habitual snoring
• Witnessed episodes of apnea during sleep - usually witnessed and reported by the patient's bed partner
• Frequent arousals during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Nocturia - waking up 2 or more times during the night to urinate
• Decreased interest in sexual activity
• Erectile dysfunction
• Impaired concentration and/or memory
• Mood swings

• Cardiovascular complications:

  • difficult to control hypertension
  • congestive heart failure
  • nighttime chest pain