ENT Specialist Op. Dr. Ümit Filiz stated that snoring is not always harmless and emphasized that a sleep test is vitally important, especially for certain risk groups.

Speaking about polysomnography, commonly known as a sleep test, Dr. Filiz said: “We do not perform sleep tests for every person who snores, but in some patients, this test plays a critical role in diagnosis and treatment. During the test, many parameters are evaluated throughout the night. We monitor brain waves with EEG, muscle activity with EMG, and eye movements with EOG. Heart rhythm is tracked with ECG. At the same time, chest and abdominal breathing movements, body position, and leg movements are assessed. We also measure blood oxygen levels and changes in heart rhythm. With this data, we can clearly determine which stage of sleep the patient is in, in which position they are sleeping, and whether they experience breathing problems during sleep. We can also understand whether the issue originates from the brain or from a narrowing in the upper airway. This test turns sleep into measurable data and helps us direct appropriate treatment.”

Emphasizing that not every patient requires a sleep test, Dr. Filiz listed the cases where it is necessary: “We definitely request a test for patients with witnessed apnea, meaning those whose breathing is observed to stop during sleep. We also recommend it for those with excessive daytime sleepiness, waking up tired in the morning, or falling asleep in front of the television in the evening.”

He also pointed out that anatomical features are important: “Patients with thick necks, excess weight, a recessed lower jaw, or enlarged uvula and tonsils have a higher likelihood of sleep apnea, so we recommend testing.”

Highlighting the strong relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension, Dr. Filiz said: “Approximately 86% of patients using more than one blood pressure medication have sleep apnea. When sleep apnea is treated, the need for medication decreases. We see patients who used three medications before treatment drop to just one.”

He also noted a similar pattern in patients who suffer strokes during sleep: “About 86% of these patients also have sleep apnea. In fact, the underlying cause of this condition is often sleep apnea. When breathing stops during sleep, blood pressure rises, heart rate increases, and stress is placed on the blood vessels, which can lead to clot formation.”

Dr. Filiz added that elevated nighttime blood pressure in patients undergoing Holter monitoring is an important warning sign: “Normally, our heart rate decreases during sleep. If blood pressure rises at night, it indicates stress in the body, and most often the cause is sleep apnea.”

He stated that treatment is planned based on sleep test results: “In severe cases, we direct patients to CPAP therapy using a mask. In milder cases, we plan solutions such as weight control, or treatments targeting the soft palate, tongue base, or jaw structure.”