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As a result, at-home tests can underestimate the severity of sleep apnea by calculating an hourly rate that appears lower than it really is. By contrast, polysomnography is able to record when you are sleeping and when you are awake for a more accurate score. Whereas sleep clinics often have long waitlists, at-home sleep apnea tests can usually be administered more quickly as they do not require you to come into the lab.
A 2012 study identified smoking as a risk factor for developing sleep apnea. The study noted that people with sleep apnea may have a predisposition to smoking as well, so treating sleep apnea may help in quitting smoking. However, if you regain the weight, it’s possible for the condition to return. Common treatments include breathing devices, medication, and surgery.
How to Prepare for a Home Sleep Study
“If you snore, are tired during the day or have a bed partner who has witnessed apneas — meaning those breathing pauses — those are the top three symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea,” she says. It’s also worth noting, however, that the real purpose of polysomnography is to get an accurate picture of where and how sleep fits into your regular routine. Don’t drastically change anything about your typical day before your sleep study so your sleep technologist has the best representation of your average sleep quality.
These unfortunate people are a ticking time bomb when it comes to developing much more serious health issues. Last but not least, you want to make sure that the room you are sleeping in is at a cooler temperature at night. It has been scientifically proven that a cooler room ensures a better night’s rest. A good pillow that can support the head and the neck properly may also ensure that you get a good night’s rest. Sleeping on your side has been proven to help with sleep apnea, but without a good pillow, it is useless.
The Night of Your Home Sleep Study:
After you administer the test, your results will be reviewed by a qualified physician, who will contact you to discuss your diagnosis and treatment options. Depending on your circumstances, you may decide to do your sleep apnea assessment via telemedicine. Typically, this will involve a remote consultation—either online or by phone—with a sleep specialist to determine whether an at-home test is right for you. Your sleep specialist will interpret your results after your test. They will likely focus on one of two sleep apnea indices, depending on your specific device. Even a slight weight loss might help relieve constriction of your throat.
However, for a small number of people with certain jaw structure problems, it's a good first option. With an at-home study, you’ll be in the comfort of your own surroundings, which can mean a more accurate reading of how you actually sleep. Our editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Taking a sleep apnea test at home offers many benefits, but there are some drawbacks to consider. We personally test every product featured in our reviews and guide to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations.
Sleep apnea
A sleep study also records how long it takes to fall asleep, the amount of time it takes to enter REM, length of sleep cycles, your body movements, breathing patterns, and overall sleep architecture. Modern studies estimate that the number of people affected by sleep apnea is between two to nine percent of all adults. While Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the leading cause of daytime sleepiness, most cases go undiagnosed and untreated.
A key element of the test report is the apnea hypopnea index or the respiratory disturbance or respiratory event index . These summary measurements are an indication of the number of breathing-related sleep disruptions that you experienced per hour during sleep or during the total time of the test. Overall, people were pleased with the timeliness of the shipments as well. Once it’s determined that you should get tested, you can order your at-home kit, which will be shipped to your door.
Still Not Convinced You Need a Sleep Study?
At-home testing is available when prescribed by a doctor, though some testing companies have their own physicians who can evaluate you. A trained technologist may explain how to use the testing device, and results from a home sleep apnea test are best interpreted by a doctor or sleep specialist. All of these sensors are hooked up to a small device about the size of a smartphone that records the data. When the night is over, you send the machine back to the sleep lab for analysis, and the results are sent to the provider to discuss your results, diagnosis, and treatment options. Polysomnography—more commonly known as a sleep study—is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.
You can explain that a sleep center makes you anxious or you want to do it at home first before going to a clinic if they’re pushy about it. The economic consequences are significant for individuals and for society at large. Is a serious condition that results in stopped breathing multiple times throughout the night. Although the body rouses during these breathing pauses, it often does so for such a brief period of time that the sleeper is unaware of the interruption. That’s why sleep apnea is sometimes first detected by a sleep partner, rather than the person with the condition.
If he or she feels you could benefit from taking the test, your kit will be shipped out. Give us a call today and one of our 5 star customer service representatives will help you. Waking Up Headache-Free – If you wake up tired or with a headache, a home sleep test may help determine whether or not you are having these symptoms as a result of OSA. Theoretically, any person ages 18 to 65 who is experiencing difficulties with their sleep can sign up for a home sleep test and consult virtually with a doctor.
This happens when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, often for more than ten seconds. Each type of sleep product is tested using a unique set of performance criteria. We also assign ratings based on feedback from testers who fall into specific categories based on weight and sleep position (i.e. side sleepers who weigh 130 to 230 pounds). A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles.
The purpose of at-home sleep apnea tests is to diagnose or monitor obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that causes repeated disruptions in breathing during sleep. Whether or not your insurance will cover a lab sleep study will depend on your plan and whether you’ve already met your deductible for the year. It’s also important to make sure you go with a sleep clinic that’s in your insurance network.
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