A home sleep study can help expedite a diagnosis of sleep apnea. This means treatment can be initiated earlier and quality of life can be improved sooner. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, a home sleep study can enable you to take action sooner.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Loud snoring
- Witnessed gasping while you sleep
- Daytime tiredness despite adequate rest
- Headaches
- Waking up with dry mouth or sore throat
- Dreams that include suffocation or impending doom
- Mood Changes
Getting Tested for Sleep Apnea
- Home sleep study: Home sleep studies offer a convenient and effective way to diagnose sleep apnea from the comfort of your own home. With easy-to-use monitoring equipment, individuals can conduct the study themselves without the need for overnight hospital stays. Once completed, a sleep physician interprets the data and provides therapy recommendations, if necessary. Results are typically available within a few business days, allowing for a timely diagnosis. Some clinics also offer follow-up consultations to review medical history and provide prescriptions for therapy, such as positive airway pressure devices, when required so treatment can begin immediately.
- In-Lab Polysomnography: After receiving a referral from your family doctor, you’ll be placed on a waitlist for a sleep lab appointment. During the appointment, a sleep technician will assist in applying the numerous monitors required to gather detailed data on more complex sleep disorders. Once the test is completed, it may take several weeks for a polysomnographer to review the data and prepare a report for the sleep doctor. Following this, it may take additional months to secure an appointment with the sleep doctor to discuss your results and explore treatment options.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
- Healthy Lifestyle changes: Regular physical activity, healthy sleep hygiene, a healthy weight, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake and quitting smoking have shown to be very effective measures at improving sleep apnea severity.
- Positional Therapy: Sleep apnea is typically more severe when sleeping on your back. Your sleep specialist may suggest sleeping on your side and avoid sleeping on your back.
- Positive Airway Pressure: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) and BiLevel devices use pressurized air to stent open the airway and relieve sleep apnea while you sleep.
- Mandibular Advancement Device: Holds the lower jaw in place and prevents it from falling back and obstructing the airway during sleep.
- Tongue Retaining Device: Push the tongue forward to prevent it from blocking the airway.
- Surgery: Removing tonsils, soft tissue ot advancing your lower jaw forward to relieve obstruction.
- Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Activates certain nerves in the throat to keep the airway open during sleep.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Treatment of sleep apnea.
Ways untreated sleep apnea can affect your well-being
Sleep apnea reduces oxygen levels in your blood during sleep and triggers a stress response in your body, which can harm various body systems over time. This not only impacts your overall health but also prevents you from achieving restorative, high-quality sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can increase your risk for the following conditions:
- Contribute to dementia in older adults
- In children, sleep apnea can contribute to learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, and a reduced interest in physical activity.
- Asthma
- Cancers such as pancreatic, renal and skin cancers
- Glaucoma
- Heart and vascular problems; Afib, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and stroke
- Metabolic syndrom
- Pregnancy complications
- Type 2 diabetes
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Living with sleep apnea. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/living-with
Without treatment, many aspects of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being can be negatively affected. Taking action is essential to reclaim your sleep and overall wellness.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea is a serious and often underdiagnosed medical condition that can significantly impact your long-term health and quality of life. A home sleep test offers a quick, convenient, and effective way to gain clarity and begin your journey toward better health. Addressing sleep apnea through timely diagnosis and treatment has been proven to enhance overall well-being, improve daily functioning, and reduce health risks. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, take the first step today for a healthier tomorrow.
Cited sources:
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Treatment of sleep apnea. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/treatment.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Living with sleep apnea. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/living-with