Do you find yourself napping at work? Does repeated awakening at night make you feel tired all day? That could be a symptom of sleep apnea.

If sleep apnea goes under-recognized for long, it becomes a ticking time bomb that can eventually become life-threatening.

Around a billion individuals suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with 80–90% undetected cases.

With a sleep apnea test at home, you have a hassle-free and affordable method to diagnose it before it disrupts your life. 

Take an at-home sleep apnea test to prevent conditions like high blood pressure, poor cognitive function, heart disease, and stroke.

Read this article to detect it on your own.

Brief Overview of Sleep Apnea 

Sleep apnea is described as repeated interruptions in breathing while sleeping. Due to this abnormal blockage in the air passage, the body doesn't receive enough oxygen. 

If you or your bedmate snort or gasp while sleeping or experience daytime drowsiness, sleep apnea is to blame. 

The symptoms of sleep apnea can vary according to the type. 

Let's briefly discuss what effects the type of sleep apnea can have on our body.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

It is a common condition that occurs more in males, overweight individuals, pregnant women, and individuals who sleep on their backs.

Signs 

• Drowsiness during the day

• Snorting or gasping for air while sleeping

• Feeling anxious after waking up

• Recurrent headaches

• Dry mouth upon awakening

• Being in a confused state after waking up 

• Lack of focus at work or school

Central Sleep Apnea

In this type, the brain fails to send the impulses that activate involuntary breathing. 

Central sleep apnea can happen to people with existing medical disorders that interfere with brain signalling for consistently functioning airway and chest muscles.

The person suffering from central sleep apnea doesn't snore as the body doesn't struggle to breathe.

Signs

Some individuals might have no symptoms at all, while others complain about:

• Lack of sleep

• Waking up due to shortness of breath

• Bad mood throughout the day

CSA is highly dangerous as it can easily go unnoticed by even the doctors. This type results in congestive heart failure.

However, it is rare to have this type of sleep apnea.

Complex Sleep Apnea 

This third type of sleep apnea is somewhat an amalgamation of the last two types. 

The signs are identical to OSA. In fact, initially, many doctors end up diagnosing Complex sleep apnea as OSA.

To prevent sleep apnea from being a silent killer of your happy life, discuss it with dentists in Kitchener.

Furthermore, people with all the symptoms can take a sleep apnea test at home.

Learn more: Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard: Everything You Need to Know

What Exactly Does Sleep Apnea Test at Home Mean?

At home sleep apnea test monitors breathing, brain activity, heart rate, and oxygen levels during sleep. 

Before you go to a doctor, you can identify if you have sleep apnea. 

Anyone at risk for any type of sleep apnea can consider a sleep apnea home test to prevent the situation from worsening.

People who are at mild to high risk include the ones who:

• Are obese

• Consume sleeping pills

• Have a high alcohol intake

• Suffer from hypertension

When the sleep apnea test at home didn't come into existence, there was only one way to find out–polysomnography.

But What is Polysomnography?

It is a test carried out throughout the night in a sleep lab, a hospital room often created to be as comfortable as possible. 

Several sensors are attached to the patient's body to track a patient's heart rate, breathing exertion, brain and muscle activity, and other parameters.

Polysomnography is still one of the most accurate tests to confirm moderate sleep apnea or entirely rule it out. 

It recognizes a variety of sleep disorders as well.

For the sleep study, the patient needs to take a nap for at least two hours. The more the patient sleeps, the more data healthcare providers obtain.

Usually, the patients spend a night at the lab to monitor the results. Nevertheless, if the information obtained is insufficient, the number of nights spent in the lab can exceed.

Sleep Apnea Test at Home: Who is It For?

Sleep apnea test at home is for people looking for an uncomplicated solution to detect the syndrome.

An individual can use it in one's own bed, and less invasive than polysomnography.

For the sleep apnea test at home, only two to four tiny sensors are attached to the patient's finger and chest. 

These sensors detect heart rate, oxygen saturation, and the number of breathing pauses throughout the night. 

Then, the sensors connect to a smartphone app, which displays the recorded data online for expert analysis.

People who show symptoms can order the equipment for a sleep apnea test at home. Or, they can go to a medical centre and pick up the device.

Types of Sleep Apnea Test at Home Equipment 

There are a few popular variants of devices that help you take sleep apnea tests at home.

Type 2

Although you can set it up at home, it is too complicated for a regular person to understand.

Hence, you would need an expert to operate it.

Type 3

These devices are easy to move and measure cardiac activity, breathing patterns, and oxygen levels in blood. 

To measure these metrics, this device for a sleep apnea test at home has an acoustic sensor, an oximeter, and an effort belt.

Although this is the most accurate one out of the others, it can't tell if the patient is asleep. That is because they can't monitor brain patterns.

Type 4

These portable devices measure oxygen saturation and airflow.

How Does a Sleep Apnea Test at Home Record Bodily Metrics?

The at-home sleep apnea test doesn't measure factors like brain activity and sleeping patterns like the devices present at labs. 

The common variables you can assess with a sleep apnea test at home are:

1.Chest Muscle Movement

Our ability to breathe in and out is measured by our respiratory effort. The sleep apnea test at home requires patients to tie a belt around the chest to assess how it rises and falls while breathing.

2.Flow of Air 

An instrument known as a nasal cannula is inserted into each nostril during multiple examinations to measure the airflow into and out of the nose. 

3.Snoring

A chest sensor or a nasal prong may be used in some tests to identify snoring. 

4.Oxygen Levels

The amount of oxygen in your blood is measured using a pulse oximeter. Typically, the device is positioned on the tip of your finger.

5.Heart Rate 

The heart rate is detected by the pulse oximeter attached to the finger. 

6.Body Position and Mobility

Some devices have sensors that can track your movement and position.

7.Peripheral Arterial Tone (PAT) 

It measures the volume change in your finger artery because of irregular breathing. 

Some at-home devices record PAT to monitor breathing. When using them, there is no need for a nasal cannula or chest band. 

Sleep Apnea Test at Home: 9 Things to Expect

As compared to the typical test procedures for this syndrome, the at-home sleep apnea test looks far more trouble-free.

With the benefits of the sleep apnea test at home, you need to face some restrictions.

Let's dig into what comes with a sleep apnea test:

1.Can't Measure Quality of Sleep 

The job of a device used for a sleep apnea test at home is to measure respiratory characteristics.

It can't tell you whether you had a night of poor or good-quality sleep.

Instead, it will gauge how often you breathe, how hard it is for your body to breathe, and if your breathing is short or prolonged.

2.Prescription is a Must

A sleep apnea test at home doesn't work like the over-the-counter treatments. 

You need a prescription from a physician or visit dentists in Kitchener to use any device used for sleep apnea diagnosis.

3.Tolerate Sensors on the Body

Many people are not comfortable with the idea of attaching sensors to their bodies.

In a sleep apnea test at home, you must attach a small probe over your finger. 

Also, you must wear a mask similar to an oxygen mask with tubes inside the nostrils and strings to keep it in place behind the ears.

Sensors with tapes are adhered to the abdomen and chest to detect the breathing pattern.

4.Complete in a Shorter Time 

As people sleep peacefully in familiar surroundings, the period of the test doesn't increase.

So, it normally takes a day to track all the variables through these devices, unlike in-lab sleep study.

5.Stress-Free Method

Going to a lab in the evening, waiting for the process to start, and sleeping with healthcare providers seem nerve-racking.

In contrast, a sleep apnea test at home is arranged according to your schedule. 

When your mind is relaxed, you get more precise readings. With error-free reading, dentists in Kitchener can design an apt treatment plan.

6.Dependability of Results 

With the sleep apnea test at home, you don't get a definite answer to whether you have the disorder.

Your results are first submitted to your doctor after a sleep technologist has examined them after the test. 

Then, the sleep specialist and dentists in Kitchener could work together for effective care.

If the symptoms don't disappear, your doctor can suggest an in-lab test. 

7.Absence of Test Oversight 

If the sensors might stop working in the middle of the night, the patient won't know. A sleep apnea test at home can have a technological or human error.

Whereas in a lab, a doctor is present to keep an eye on you.

8.Cheaper Option 

A polysomnogram is costly in comparison with the at-home sleep apnea test. Thankfully, dentists in Kitchener have insurance coverage for various dental treatments.

9.Differences in Equipment 

Sleep apnea tests at home may have inconsistent findings because there is no standard for which sensors or algorithms to employ across devices. 

Process of Conducting a Sleep Apnea Test at Home

A sleep apnea test at home is a structured process involving six steps:

1.Making an Appointment

If you believe that you should take a sleep apnea test at home, start maintaining a sleep diary.

People who have symptoms of any type of sleep apnea or any other disorder can mention the abnormality in their sleep habits to the doctor. 

After that, the doctor will discern whether the patient needs a sleep clinic.

2.Acquire the Prescription 

Before deciding on the best medical care, the sleep specialist asks for further in-depth inquiries. 

Patients can ask about the cost, insurance coverage, practicality, and accuracy of a sleep apnea test at home compared to in-center polysomnography. 

They inform the patient if a sleep apnea test at home is right for them and provide a prescription. 

Or, based on the gathered data, a sleep specialist might advise an in-clinic sleep study as the next step.

3.Prepare the Test Equipment 

A sleep specialist instructs the patient on which equipment to use for the sleep apnea test at home. 

They also walk you through the working and the do's and don't of the device.

4.Taking the Test

Following the doctor's instructions, anyone can easily carry out the sleep apnea test at home. 

Put on all the sensors like belt, cannula, and pulse oximeter and go to sleep as you do normally.

5.Give the Equipment Back

Unless you have a disposable test, you need to send back the equipment at the time and place specified by your healthcare providers. 

The equipment has to be submitted to the sleep lab or clinic to save and evaluate the data.

6.Receive the Treatment Plan

From the data of the sleep apnea test at home, the physician will establish the most effective treatment for you. 

Increase the Accuracy of the Sleep Apnea Test at Home 

On the test days, stay away from naps, caffeine, and alcohol, and be attentive to your meal timing to achieve a more accurate reading.

Repeat this routine for one to three nights to collect enough data.

Getting a more accurate picture of your symptoms could be possible by gathering data over several nights and sleeping in different positions.

An Easier Alternative Introduced by Dentists in Kitchener

If you are scared of CPAP machines and oral surgeries, dentists in Kitchener offer a less scary and smoother option.

At KWC Dental, the patients get a little intraoral device to wear while they sleep. 

We demand that patients have a sleep test that validates a sleep apnea diagnosis before making an appliance. 

After the diagnosis, we take an oral examination and impressions of the patient. 

Once we deliver the appliance to our patients, they get their good night's sleep back.

To discover more about our expertise, go over to our article: From Fear to Cheer: How the Right Family Dentist in Kitchener Can Transform Your Dental Visit.

Request a free consultation right away to start your day feeling as energetic as ever!

FAQs 

How will I know how to use the sleep apnea test at home?

You will get the equipment with a detailed manual on operating it.

Which sleeping position should a sleep apnea patient avoid?

Sleep apnea patients should refrain from sleeping on their backs. Side sleeping is preferred to ease breathing trouble.

Who interprets the information of the sleep apnea test at home?

A sleep medicine specialist carefully analyzes the data to declare if the patient qualifies for the sleep apnea treatment.

What are the common sleep apnea misdiagnosis?

Doctors can diagnose you with diabetes, depression, low testosterone, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, or GERD instead of sleep apnea.

Final Thoughts

Sleep apnea poses a grave threat to a person's health. Therefore, everyone should identify with a sleep apnea test at home before it's too late.

At-home tests are suitable for those who don't have another sleep disorder. 

Once a sleep specialist determines the results of the test, the patients get to know if these tests are right for them.

Individuals with mild to severe OSA should book a consultation with a dentist in Kitchener for successful treatment.