Sleep Apnea affects roughly 39 million people in the United States today. According to research, about 24 million people have various symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but don’t know they have it. These symptoms include:
- Inability to focus during the day
- Loud snoring
- Excessive sleep during daytime
- Sore throat or dry mouth in the morning after waking up from sleep
- Morning headaches
- Observed episodes of failed breathing during sleep
If you currently experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, there’s a high chance you have sleep apnea. But you shouldn’t jump to conclusions until after performing an at-home sleep test for OSA. While this type of test isn’t the most effective, it can always help you to understand your condition (if done well), including why you need to buy a reliable CPAP ventilator.
What exactly is an at-home sleep test for apnea?
As the name suggests, an at-home sleep apnea test is a method of diagnosing OSA at home. With an at-home sleep test, you won’t need to visit a sleep clinic or laboratory. Instead, all you need is a portable device, which can help you measure various symptoms of apnea, as well as your breathing patterns.
The most effective way to diagnose this sleep disorder is by carrying out polysomnography in a sleep lab. However, with an at-home test, you can get a result that’s close to what polysomnography can provide. All you just need is to carry out the sleep test the right way at home.
However, you need to keep in mind that this type of home test is not ideal for everybody. You should only consider it if your condition is not complicated and you don’t have other respiratory-related health issues that could affect your sleep quality.
Here’s exactly how an at-home sleep test works below:
- To begin, you need a sleep test device. This could either be a type 3 device or a type 4 device.
- With a type 3 device, you can always measure up to 7 different variables while sleeping at home.
- A type 4 device, on the other hand, can only measure up to 3 variables effectively.
- These devices come with sensors, which will help you measure variables like your breathing patterns, snoring, and blood oxygen levels. Other variables you can measure include your heart rate, airflow, peripheral arterial tone, and body position. With these variables, your doctor can easily detect if you’re suffering from OSA. The results will also help to identify the extent of your condition.
Is now a good time to try an at-home sleep test?
You have two options when it comes to diagnosing OSA today. You can either do it at home or in a sleep clinic. We only recommend trying the at-home option if:
- You currently struggle to book an appointment and visit a reliable sleep clinic.
- An at-home sleep test may also be recommended if your doctor suspects you may have severe or moderate OSA.
- You can also consider this test approach if you don’t have any medical health issues that could affect your breathing quality during sleep.
Pros & cons of at-home test for sleep apnea
Doing your sleep test at home has its strengths and weaknesses. Weighing the following options can also help you understand if an at-home test is worth it:
Pros
- At-home sleep apnea tests are less expensive when compared to lab diagnosis.
- It is not time-consuming and everything will be done in the comfort of your home.
- Nobody needs to know about your condition. You can carry out this test discreetly.
Cons
- If care isn’t taken, you may end up getting an inaccurate sleep test
- A lack of trained sleep professionals can make this test difficult overnight.
- This test approach won’t help you measure certain variables, such as your brain waves and other sleep disorders you may be experiencing.
Do you feel an at-home sleep test for sleep apnea is not for you? If yes, you can visit iSleepBetter today to better understand how to better diagnose your condition for OSA.
