Can an app help figure out if you are suffering from sleep apnea?
The Doctors social media producer Karyn shares that she recently awoke in the middle of the night gasping for breath. She downloaded an app that claims to be able to detect sleep apnea and it records the noises she makes while sleeping. She is wondering if an app can actually help determine if she is suffering from sleep apnea and if snoring will make her prone to developing sleep apnea.
Sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta weighs in on these sleep apps and if they are effective at detecting sleep apnea, noting these apps "can suggest but not diagnose sleep apnea."
He goes on to explain that snoring does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. He says the snoring becomes concerning when it is combined with gasping, choking or if you stop breathing while sleeping.
Watch: Could a Plant Help You Stop Snoring?
Dr. Raj says it is "essential" to get checked out if you are suffering from any of these sleeping red flags.
