What do you need to know about a home sleep test?

Posted by Marry Grover on February 24th, 2023

Bodily functions like pumping blood, breathing, and digestion continue even when you are asleep. However, if any of these processes is hindered when resting, it can wake you up from your slumber and result in health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea, where breathing gets blocked, can cause you to wake up tired with a headache or dry mouth. Diagnosing whether or not you have this problem necessitates undergoing testing. Patients who suspect sleep apnea can opt for polysomnography or a home sleep apnea test. Those who are more interested in opting for the latter are recommended to read the article for further details. Here you go!

What is a home sleep apnea test?

Sleep apnea is a condition where the patient experiences a problem breathing while sleeping at night. As a result, he often wakes from his slumber gasping for air. The condition is not ideal as it can cause severe health problems like hypertension, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Thus, it is necessary to begin its treatment as soon as possible. To determine whether you have OSA, you should take a home sleep apnea test. It is an easy and cost-effective manner of diagnosing OSA.

The at-home test kit consists of a simplified breathing monitor that tracks your breathing, oxygen levels, and breathing effort while worn. It does not fully capture what is typically monitored during an overnight sleep study but offers a thorough assessment of sleep issues. The results provide data on brainwaves, muscle tone, leg movement, eye movement, and much more. For people suffering from heart, breathing, or neuromuscular problems, getting an overnight study done at the sleep centre may prove to be better. 

What to know about at-home sleep tests?

Here is all that you need to know about getting an at-home sleep apnea test:

• They monitor breathing:

A sleep test evaluates apnea by monitoring breathing parameters and not just sleep. It doesn’t record how long you spend in deep or light sleep and instead pays attention to your breathing. It oversees pauses/absence of breathing, the effort required for breathing, and whether you take deep or shallow breaths.

• Should be prescribed by a doctor:

A home sleep test is not an over-the-counter test. First, your primary care physician or expert at a sleep clinic should recommend it for use. Only then you should opt for an at-home sleep test.

• Detects breathing patterns using sensors:

The sleep home test features a small probe put over your fingers to measure oxygen levels. Another mask with tubes is inserted into your nostrils and secured around the ears, similar to what happens with an oxygen mask. Other sensors are put around your abdomen and chest that measure the rise and fall of your breathing.

• It is a small commitment:

The sleep home tests are primarily used for just one night. Also, these prove to be cheaper than the sleep study tests conducted in a clinic. The difference is huge, anywhere from a third to a fifth of the cost of conducting an in-lab sleep study.

• It is more convenient:

It is ideal to opt for an at-home sleep test as you get an opportunity to be in the comfort of your surroundings. This might help get a more accurate reading of how you actually rest.

So, these are a few things that you must consider if you wish to get a sleep test.