UARS Diagnosis Process

Getting a diagnosis of UARS can be difficult. Learn what your sleep study must look for in order to diagnose UARS.

~2 minute read

posted on September 24, 2019

Upper airway resistance syndrome, commonly shortened to UARS, is a rare sleep breathing disorder in which narrowing in the airways causes sleep fragmentation and extreme fatigue.

How to Detect UARS

1. You suspect a sleep disorder

The first step in getting diagnosed with UARS is suspecting you have a sleep-breathing disorder like obstructive sleep apnea or UARS in the first place!

Since you're reading this, I'll assume you're looking for a solution to your excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive issues, insomnia, and a whole bunch of nasty symptoms caused by UARS.

2. Make an appointment with your general practitioner (GP)

What to mention to your doctor

Be sure to mention all your symptoms you've been experiencing. I recommend writing them down on a piece of paper or on your phone before going just so you don't forget something important.

Seeing a specialist

It's not required to see a sleep specialist to undergo a sleep study and get a CPAP, however, your doctor is likely to refer you to a sleep specialist after a confirmed diagnosis.

3. Undergo a sleep study

A sleep study, or polysomnography (PSG) test, is necessary to diagnose UARS. It's also important to have a baseline to see improvements after treatment.

What should I expect from my sleep study?

At-Home Study

Sleep Lab Study

4. Wait patiently for the results

It usually takes between 1-2 weeks to recieve the results from your sleep study.