Have you been unusually tired lately? Has your partner told you that you frequently snore? These are signs that you may have sleep apnea. Often, this condition is diagnosed by a sleep study that takes place in a laboratory, but did you know that at-home sleep tests are an option for many patients? How can you tell if you should request an at-home sleep test? This blog post provides useful information.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
At-home sleep tests are specifically designed to help medical professionals detect the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder that causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night. Pay special attention to the quality of your sleep for a few weeks, and ask your partner for their observations as well. Write down what you notice or use an app so you can bring the information to your doctor or sleep dentist. Some signs and symptoms to watch for include:
- Excessive daytime tiredness even after spending 7 – 8 hours asleep
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Observed pauses in breathing
- Difficulty paying attention
- Slow reaction times when driving due to tiredness
While anyone can develop OSA, it tends to be more common among those who are older, obese, pregnant, or who have anatomical abnormalities in their upper airway.
Is an At-Home Sleep Test Right for You?
Some points that you and your care team should consider before determining if you should take an at-home sleep test include:
- At-home sleep tests do not actually analyze your sleep: Rather, they use an oximeter or other tools to monitor your oxygen saturation and other metrics that can be affected when you stop breathing.
- At-home tests cannot diagnose other issues: At-home tests are often reliable for diagnosing OSA, but if you do not have OSA, you may still need to take an in-lab sleep test to discover why your rest is not doing its job.
- At-home sleep tests are easy: To set up the equipment, you may just need to put a device on your finger and/or wrist and then go about your usual sleep routine. Once you return the equipment, a doctor will analyze the results and get back to you. This high level of convenience has made at-home tests increasingly popular.
Do you think you could benefit from an at-home sleep test? It might be the first step toward understand your struggles and conquering them!
Meet the Practice
Dr. David J. Drummond has decades of experience in dentistry. He also has in-depth knowledge of obstructive sleep apnea and uses convenient oral appliance therapy to help patients manage their condition and enjoy improved health. Our office uses two different types of at-home sleep tests for patients who have not yet received an OSA diagnosis. To learn more about us or to set up a consultation, contact our office in Lawton at 580-355-0344.