Your Guide To an In-home sleep study

What is a sleep apnea test?

A home sleep apnea test is used to diagnose the symptoms at home rather than in a sleep lab. This method uses a handheld device to measure respiration during sleep. An at-home sleep apnea test differs from a sleep disorders test called polysomnography. A PSG is carried out within a sleep lab in the hospital, and the technician monitors the patient while sleeping. In some cases, the PSG test can help identify central sleep apnea. At-home sleep tests, dispensed by a sleep apnea specialist like Dental Sleep Medicine of Greenville are 98% effective in diagnosing sleep apnea.

How do sleep apnea tests work?

Adult obstructive sleep apnea tests can detect specific factors while a person is asleep and experiencing symptoms. These measurements help identify obstructive sleep apnea by doctors in a medical setting. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of apneas or hypopneas during sleep, interrupting standard breathing patterns and causing oxygen levels in the blood to drop. Different sensors and measurement modes vary depending on the particular test instrument. The device worn will take measurements from your fingers, wrist bands, wristbands, or chest sensor placed on the chest. Some at-home tests are called Type 3 devices and measure seven variables including oxygen levels. Some types of devices can measure just three parameters. Test results are usually received in two days, and a diagnosis is given by a South Carolina board-certified MD in sleep medicine. Your health insurance may cover a small portion of the test cost.

Is Sleep Apnea Testing Right for You?

Suppose your doctor or sleep specialist Dr. Lindner believes you have a sleep disorder or moderate obstructive sleep apnea due to your co-morbidity like hypertension or diabetes. In that case, you should consider taking an at-home sleep assessment. Sleep Apnea Tests are often an attractive option for people who can’t make an appointment at the Sleep Clinic or are waiting too long for a scheduled appointment at a hospital. You may prefer to sleep in your own home. In-home sleep apnea tests are also less expensive averaging around $279 while a PSG test can cost thousands.

What does the test measure?

Sleep Apnea testing can use several different sensors to track your sleep. Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects breathing. This test measures respiration, snoring, and blood oxygen level. Various types of sleep apnea such as central sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can be carried out using different kinds of sensor equipment depending on the type of sensor in a particular test package.

In the e-book Sleep Apnosis, a new book is published to help improve sleep quality in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Home Sleep Studies vs. In-Lab Sleep Studies polysomnography. (PSG)

Home sleep tests do not affect sleep disorders. The laboratory study helps identify other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, a complication of limb and repetitive movements. The main differences lie with tests. While both tests typically assess airflow, blood circulation, and cardiovascular rate, only a PSG in-lab sleep center study, tests sleep using brain waves and function.

Many people prefer home sleep studies to in-lab studies because they have less cost and don’t have to go into a sleep lab. Home sleep apnea tests also have fewer attachments so the testing may not be too painful. The home sleep test is read by a sleep specialist MD.

What is a sleep study at home?

Home sleep apnea tests (HSATs) are nighttime tests conducted outside hospitals. The same is true of the HST home tests, the OCS out-of-center sleep test, the out-of-center recording, and the polysomnography (PSG). These types of tests can help diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea. Usually, home sleep apnea tests cost less and are considered more convenient than laboratory studies because they are carried out in the comforts of a person’s own bed. When doing a sleep apnea test in a hospital, you must wear many sensors, and you are videotaped the whole time while a sleep technician monitors and records everything.

Understanding Your Results

Any patient taking sleep apnea tests should talk to their doctor. The home test device provides the basic information that the sleep physician will analyze and diagnose OSA. When your medical professional discusses your symptoms, it may help you determine if your AHI is minor, moderate, or severe apnea.

The AHI shows a typical number of breathing disturbances per night, snoring events, the loudness of the snore, increases in heart rate, and drops in brain oxygen during a sleep test. AHI is used for diagnosing OSA and for determining its severity. The doctor will recommend treatment if your sleep apnea testing results are positive in a clinical presentation.

Treatment with CPAP

If the sleep apnea diagnosis is moderate to severe, the pulmonologist or primary care physician will recommend the CPAP, considered the golden standard. Usually, one out of three people are CPAP intolerant and seek alternative treatment.

If the diagnosis is mild to moderate OSA, the sleep apnea dentist Dr. Lindner can make you an oral appliance for sleep apnea. You may also consider the removal of your tonsils by your ENT if they block your airway. This can help increase the volume of air in your trachea but does not help with obstructions like your tongue. Only an oral appliance for sleep apnea can remove the blockage from your throat.

Treatment with mandibular advancement device(MAD)

The MAD or oral OSA appliance is FDA-approved as a medical device for treating mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and is covered by your medical insurance. Make sure you get this device at a board-certified dentist like Dr. Leor Lindner specializing in sleep apnea like Dental Sleep Medicine of Greenville. If a patient is severely CPAP intolerant an osa oral appliance or MAD would help them breathe better. No treatment is not an option. Untreated OSA puts you at risk for a stroke or heart attack and can rob you of five. to ten years of your life span depending on the severity

How a MAD works

A mandibular advancement device (MAD) is a type of oral appliance that helps treat sleep apnea by moving the jaw forward and increasing the vertical opening of your jaw to open up the airway.

When you sleep, your tongue and soft tissues in your mouth relax, and gravity helps it fall back, squeeze the tissue around your airway and throat (the pharynx), and block the airway.

A MAD advances the jaw forward to keep these soft tissues away from the airway and keep it open. This allows for easier breathing while you sleep, reducing obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea causes many health issues

hypertension-

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than average. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Increased risk of stroke-

A blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes. When the blood oxygen level drops it can lead to heart failure

Low Libido-

Libido is the sexual instinct or erotic desire and pleasure. Your libido is otherwise known as your ‘sex drive’ severe sleep apnea can seriously affect your libido.

diabetes- feel tired because oxygen saturation decreases leads to health conditions.

When your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should. Too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream when there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin. Over time, that can cause serious health problems like heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Obesity-

Overweight and obesity are abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called a major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems

Disturbed sleep of bed partner- repeated leg movements and loud snoring

When your spouse or partner is constantly awoken by your snoring sounds.

Home Sleep Test Metrics

The types of sleep apnea testing vary according to the kind of test. To qualify for Type 3 testing the student has to measure: Type 4 tests collect one or two measures including Additional steps can include: The present sleep-test classification system does not include specific measurements that are gathered from different test methods like RES and WatchPAT. Therefore, a new Sleep Test Evaluation System is being suggested. The system’s name is an acronym SCOPER, which means measuring sleep, heart rate, and respiratory activity.

Home Sleep Study Devices

Sleep tests are categorized based on the type of information they gather or gather. Test type 1 & 2 provides detailed data. For example, technicians’ in-lab polysomnography is described as an ectopic type one sleep test. Tests for insomnia in the house usually are types three-4, which collect less information. It is an overnight sleep study at home test.

The number of devices used for your Sleep Apnea Test is determined by how often your doctor orders your tests. Your home sleep apnea tests may have several components. Occasionally, specific diagnostic tools have been tested with other parameters associated with sleep apnea. They are often incorporated within standard equipment.

Sleep Apnea Home Test: Examining the Pros and Cons of a Sleep Apnea Self Test

Home-based testing has become more common to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep disorders, and many insurers consider it an economical choice. In contrast, others choose to opt for it. However, this does not appeal to anyone. In many instances, obstructive sleep disorders have been diagnosed through sleep tests or polysomnographic testing.

The results of our study remain quite exhaustive. During these hours, a doctor will spend an hour away from home with electrodes and other equipment in a bed. Sleep Apnea Tests have helped improve the quality of sleep and improve the quality of sleep.

The best home sleep apnea test

It has several types, and brand-name sleep apnea tests available in the market. Sometimes your doctor may recommend a sleeping device, and a technology expert will provide instructions for it. This article describes our favorite sleep apnea test: WatchPat one.

Why is the Itamar WatchPAT-One home sleep apnea test the best?

It was praised for being very efficient in providing customer service. The test also comes with the same price as other similar tests. We charge a $279 flat rate.

Who should use the Itamar WatchPAT-One home sleep apnea test?

Anyone suspected of suffering from OSA should try this test.

Talk to your doctor about home sleep tests

If you suspect obstructive sleep apnea, you can ask your doctor for sleep tests. Generally, a physician refers people with sleep apnea to a sleep expert like Dr. Leor Lindner who decides the correct type of sleep test to perform on that patient.

Dental Sleep Medicine of Greenville proudly features the WatchPAT One for the best at-home testing experience possible. The most advanced Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) available, the WatchPAT One is uber-accurate, measuring sleep apnea based on up to 7 factors (PAT signal, heart rate, oximetry, actigraphy, body position, snoring, and chest motion).

Unlike traditional home sleep testing devices, the WatchPAT One requires no nasal tube or uncomfortable body strap. It’s almost as easy to use as a simple wristwatch. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with our sleep apnea dentist Dr. Leor Lindner