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Diseases & Conditions
When is a sleep study needed?
- By Toni Golen, MD, Contributor, and
- Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Ask the doctors
Q. I notice my spouse snort and briefly stop breathing several times each night. Should we consider a sleep study? If so, what kind?
A. You’re right to worry. Obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when muscles at the back of the throat relax, narrowing the airway and hindering breathing, can lead to chronic tiredness as well as heart problems, depression, and a host of other serious conditions.
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About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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