Table of Content
This is variable by insurance, but we offer a complimentary benefits check through our online portal. You’ll know how much the test will cost and how much your insurance will cover. You pay for your space at the lab and a technician to stay with you throughout the night to monitor your test.
Our team of sleep experts has personally evaluated hundreds of sleep products using our comprehensive testing methodology. Each member of the team brings years of experience and expertise to their testing role. To evaluate at-home sleep apnea tests, members of our team followed the recommended process for each test and logged their results along with notes about their experience. It’s important to note that most at-home tests do not measure sleep quality. This may be limiting if you are trying to decide whether an at-home test or onsite sleep study is better suited for your specific situation.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
For example, in-lab polysomnography performed with a technician is classed as a type 1 sleep test. Home sleep apnea tests are generally type 3 or 4 tests, which collect less data. The number of devices used in your home sleep apnea test depends on if your medical provider orders a type 3 or type 4 study. Home sleep apnea tests are commonly used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. These diagnostic kits track factors such as pauses in your breathing, the amount of effort it takes for you to breathe, the depth of your breathing, and your oxygen levels during sleep. Read on to find out what is included in a home test for sleep apnea.
It may actually help to pretend you are getting ready to take the test the night before. If you do this, then you can take the following day to seek any answers or clarification you may have prior to the actual recording. Merritt Wakefield is a writer and researcher committed to helping people with CPAP learn about sleep apnea and the various benefits and features of sleep therapy and CPAP products. Imagine what will happen if it is fixed around your chest with only one strap or placed in a back pouch of a pajama.
Step 3: Order Your At-Home Sleep Test & Change Your Life
Unlike PSG, at-home tests can’t measure sleep activity like sleep stages because they don’t use electrodes that can detect brain activity. At-home tests focus on breathing and oxygen levels, though some rely on secondary measures, like body movement, to indicate sleep quality. A polysomnography conducted in a lab is the most accurate test available to diagnose sleep apnea. Another factor that is important to observe is your primary sleep position, especially since studies have shown that AHI increases while people with sleep apnea sleep on their backs.
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. 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. The process for obtaining and taking the Lofta WatchPAT test is simple. Then you have an arranged video chat with a sleep specialist, after which you select a night to take the test.
Treatment options
Both in-lab and at-home sleep apnea tests measure vital functions, such as breathing patterns, heart rate, and oxygen levels. The results of these tests can help your doctor determine whether you have sleep apnea. A diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requires testing that shows a certain number of breathing disturbances during sleep. An in-clinic sleep study, known as a polysomnogram, is the most common way that sleep apnea is diagnosed, but home sleep apnea tests can be used for certain patients. You’ll also need a medical professional to determine the right type of testing for you.
For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If you have nasal allergies, your doctor will recommend treatment for your allergies. None of the content on Sleep.com is, or is intended to be a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Sleep Apnea Test Results Explained
Not suitable for everyone, including people who have trouble sleeping and/or take a long time to fall asleep. At detecting sleep apnea in people considered likely to have a moderate or severe form. The test becomes less accurate for people with certain other health or sleep disorders.
Data from the device is uploaded securely to a cloud-based database from a smartphone app. Once the doctor confirms they’ve received the data, you simply discard the testing device. The test is performed using a single-use, disposable device that a doctor sends home with you or can have shipped to your home.
Below, we’ve highlighted the Lofta WatchPAT, one of the leading at-home sleep apnea tests available today. We've recently updated this page to highlight the Lofta WatchPAT, and include some additional information about buying and using at-home sleep apnea tests. 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. A sleep test is meant to evaluate a patient for sleep apnea, and it monitors breathing parameters, not the sleep itself.
“Your first stop usually is your primary care doctor,” recommends Khan. At-home testing devices can definitely detect sleep apnea, but only a trained professional can interpret the results. And, you’ll need a prescription to use this kind of device. During your visit, you will discuss your diagnosis and treatment option.
No comments:
Post a Comment