
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Sleep apnea physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Generally, the most common signs of sleep apnea are a large waist/neck circumference and facial deformities. If sleep apnea is left untreated, signs of for pulmonale, stroke, hypoxemia, and pulmonary hypertension are evident.
Sleep Apnea Physical Examination
Sleep Apnea Physical Examination
General appearance
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Irritable
- Sitting up and leaning forward to improve diaphragmatic breathing
- Children may not grow at a normal rate
Vital Signs
Vital signs are generally within normal limit, but patients with severe disease may have the following vital signs:
- Decreased SPO2
- Tachyapnea
- Tachycardia
- High BP
Chest
- Wheeze
- Pleural effusion
Heart
- Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH)
- Left parasternal systolic lift
- 3rd/4th heart sounds and pansystolic murmur of tricuspid regurgitation over right heart
- Split second heart sound with loud pulmonary component
- Systolic ejection murmur with a sharp ejection click over the pulmonary artery
- Diastolic pulmonary regurgitation murmur over the pulmonary artery
Abdomen
- Ascites
- Hepatomegaly
- Large waist circumference
Skin
ENT
- Large neck circumference
- Particularly prominent among men who have a collar size greater than 17 inches and women who have a collar size greater than 16 inches[1]
- Retrognathia
- Micrognathia
- Lateral peritonsillar narrowing
- Macroglossia
- Tonsillar hypertrophy
- Elongated or enlarged uvula
- A high arched or narrow palate
- Nasal septal deviation
- Nasal polyps
- Increased jugular venous pressure
- Prominent neck and facial veins
Extremeties
- Digital clubbing
- Pedal edema
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.
