Health Conditions A-Z Sleep How Sleep Apnea Is Diagnosed By Health.com Editorial Team Health.com Editorial Team An article by 'Health.com Editorial Team' indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors may contribute to an article over the years. These collaborations allow Health.com editors to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available. The editors at Health.com are a dedicated team of experienced health editors, writers, and other media professionals who strive to bring trustworthy and responsible health and medical content to their readers. As a team, we have decades of experience in health journalism, and have worked at legacy publishers and some of the biggest news and media companies in the U.S. health's editorial guidelines Published on February 29, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email If you find yourself gasping for air or waking up frequently throughout the night, talk to your doctor: You may need to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening condition that can leave you exhausted during the day (and prone to serious health problems), even after a full night's rest. Diagnosis of sleep apnea involves an overnight study at a sleep lab, or in some cases, a home test that monitors your breathing and vital signs while you sleep. One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring, so many patients are alerted to their problem by a spouse or bed partner. Live alone? Not sure if you snore? Record yourself sleeping via audio or video, suggests Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, director of the Annapolis Center for Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia Therapies (which also frequently treats sleep disorders). If there's any chance you may have sleep apnea, your doctor should prescribe a sleep study or refer you to a certified sleep specialist. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit