At Home Sleep Apnea Test:
In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as running and parkour. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you tally three or more points, you are at moderate to high risk for OSA and should talk to your doctor. Sleep apnea requires an official diagnosis, but you can take a test in a medical setting or at home. Read our guide on what to expect from an at-home test, how to prepare, who they’re right for, and other considerations. Luckily, the device comes with thorough instructions and’in the case you get a bad reading’you can wear the NightOwl multiple times for new data.
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Sleep tests are categorized according to how much and what type of data they collect. 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 equipment in your home sleep apnea test depends on what type of test your medical provider orders. If you’re doing an at-home sleep apnea test, you’ll generally have the test delivered to you at your house on the chosen date.
A study from the University of Minnesota points out that direct-to-consumer testing can be unclear in terms of follow-up, too. The good news is, most people who take these tests do understand the importance of reporting this information to their doctors. The University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging found that almost 50% of the people in the survey, ages 40 to 80, had used an at-home test. And 90% of those who’d bought a test for cancer brought their results to their health care provider, as did 55% of those who tested themselves for an infection. At-home sleep apnea tests can either be ordered by your primary care physician, or you can have a telehealth visit or fill out an intake survey with a testing provider to determine if you are a good candidate to be tested.
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A type 2 test uses the same devices to measure the same information about your sleep patterns as a type 1 test, but it can be conducted at home or in a sleep lab. Unlike a type 1 test, there is no sleep technician on hand to monitor your test. Researchers estimate that one billion people7 globally have obstructive sleep apnea. If you find yourself waking up in the night gasping for air (or constantly getting whacked by your partner for snoring), you may want to consider an at-home sleep apnea test.
However, these should be used in tandem with treatment from your doctor. However, there are signs that you have sleep apnea that shouldn’t be ignored. They include loud snoring, periods of not breathing before gasping for breath, which is usually reported by another person. Both types of sleep apnea are characterized by breathing interruptions during your sleep, or periods of shallow breathing. But as these breathing interruptions occur when you are sleeping, it can be difficult to detect that they are even happening. To coincide with Sleep Awareness Week 2024, we put that question to Professor Esther Rodriguez-Villegas, the founder of Acurable, which creates wearable medical devices designed to detect sleep apnea.
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Collecting data over multiple nights and informing your doctor of your habitual sleep positions might help give a more accurate view of your symptoms. A home sleep apnea test is a portable breathing monitor you wear overnight. As you sleep, the device monitors your breathing and oxygen levels to detect and measure pauses in breathing, which are known as apneas. The test calculates an OSA severity score by calculating the average number of lapses in breathing per hour in bed. This disorder causes temporary pauses in breathing during sleep, making diagnosis and treatment essential for overall health and well-being.
Researchers suggested that in-lab tests could be a second step in this process, which would help assess the severity of the patient’s sleep apnea8. During the at-home sleep apnea test, you’ll use a nasal prong6 to measure airflow and a fingertip official statement probe to monitor your oxygen levels. Additionally, the at-home test includes a chest belt and an abdomen belt, both of which monitor your breathing6. These four sensors are attached to a device that records the information throughout the night6.
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If you have sleep apnea, relaxation of throat muscles combine with a narrowed airway to interrupt breathing. Today, these laboratories are often located in a hotel rather than a hospital. At-home sleep apnea testing is generally more affordable than more hints a polysomnogram and is often covered by insurance. The Sleep Doctor test can be used in any setting, so you won’t need to leave your bed to use the device. The device has earned FDA approval, and does not require an appointment with a physician.
It can be a helpful tool for those seeking an OSA diagnosis, offering timely insights and personalized sleep therapy recommendations, but is not as accurate as a lab-administered test. Home sleep apnea tests (HSATs) are also called unattended sleep studies or out-of-center sleep testing. The test typically involves attaching sensors to your body, which are connected to a portable monitor that records and displays different types of information. At-home sleep apnea tests are best suited for people who are suspected of having moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea that isn’t complicated by other disorders. Taking a sleep apnea test at home can be more convenient and comfortable than in a lab, but it may have limitations as well. Specifically, a 2022 study8 concluded that at-home sleep studies are particularly helpful in determining a preliminary sleep apnea diagnosis.
Doctors use AHI in diagnosing OSA and to determine how severe the condition is. Besides the potential benefits, there are several possible drawbacks to taking a sleep apnea test at home. You may be more comfortable taking a test in the privacy of your bedroom as opposed to a lab. With only a finger sensor and a smartphone app, the NightOwl may be a more comfortable fit for some. Of course, this single sensor needs to be applied correctly and stay on all night for an accurate reading. The Wesper kit includes two FDA-approved patches, a finger pulse oximeter, a charging station, and replacement adhesives.
‘If the results indicate that you don’t have sleep apnea but you still have all the symptoms for sleep apnea, you may need to have further testing,’ he explains. This testing might include in-lab polysomnography, a sleep study that measures brain waves along with other parameters and is considered the standard for diagnosing sleep-related breathing disorders. Two types of studies can potentially detect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
You may not be aware of symptoms that occur when you sleep, such as if you stop breathing or gasp, and a bed partner or family member may need to report them. If you get a positive test result, call your doctor right away to get retested, so the results can be confirmed. If your home test is proven accurate, your doctor can start any treatment that you need. And sometimes, you’ll find that you actually don’t have a condition or disease after all. After your sleep test is complete, you and your doctor will go over your results together and discuss your diagnosis.
‘This is the number of times your upper airway experiences a significant collapse (or blockage) per hour of sleep,’ explains Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer. Taking a sleep here apnea test at home offers many benefits, but there are some drawbacks to consider. Take this quick quiz to see if you may have the symptoms of sleep apnea.