Signs That Raise Suspicion for Sleep Apnea - Essay Example

The patient has witnessed apneas as the wife stated and the combination of these two factors is more sensitive in placing this diagnosis. Furthermore, the snoring is distinctly loud and can even be heard from downstairs. For the patient, I would recommend measurement of his neck circumference and conducting an overnight sleep study or polysomnography.
Sleep apnea has several associated risks and these should be explained to the patient.

Firstly, the patient has already begun to develop one of the complications which is hypertension. This can be attributed to the depletion of oxygen levels in the blood which has a significant toll on the cardiovascular system. The patient also must have an abdominal ultrasound to assess the status of his liver as scarring is a common complication of the disorder. The patient’s family is also at risk of suffering sleep deprivation due to the loud snoring by the patient which can also affect their daily routine. Read More