Process for HSAT
- A 10-minute telehealth discussion with a healthcare provider to review your symptoms and upcoming sleep study
- Disposable home sleep apnea test equipment; results available the next morning
- A prescription for PAP therapy (if recommended to treat obstructive sleep apnea)
- Access to sleep experts who can offer customized sleep therapy options, assistance in equipment purchase, and initial set-up
An estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and a majority of these cases are undiagnosed. Untreated, OSA can cause serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive and behavior disorders, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and more. A sleep study is required to diagnose sleep apnea. Traditionally, sleep studies needed to be completed via an overnight stay at a sleep clinic; a process that is both cumbersome and difficult for some patients. Thankfully, modern technology has made completing a sleep study an easy and unobtrusive process.
Diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea At Home
A diagnosis of sleep apnea depends on the results of an overnight evaluation focused on monitoring breathing and other body functions during sleep. With a home sleep test, the device measures your heart rate, blood oxygen level, and breathing patterns—which is sufficient for most OSA diagnoses.
With Sleep Care online, we have simplified the path from diagnosis to treatment, thus introducing an easy way to get an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis at home. First, schedule a 10-minute telehealth appointment with one of our healthcare providers. You will discuss your symptoms, upcoming sleep study, test results, and potential treatment options. After that, you will receive a multi-night disposable home sleep apnea test in the mail for you to complete at your convenience.
A physician will then analyze your study results and provide a prescription for CPAP therapy, if necessary. You are also able to schedule an optional follow-up appointment (additional fee applies) to get in contact with our sleep experts again.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Common obstructive sleep apnea symptoms that a patient can show are:
- Fatigue or extreme daytime sleepiness
- Pain in the head in the morning
- Snoring loudly
- Anxiety or restlessness during sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Low sex drive
- High blood pressure
- Awaking choking or breathless
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Waking up frequently during the night to urinate
If you believe the signs for sleep apnea match your symptoms, the first step to an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis is to take our 1-minute risk assessment. Your answers to these questions will classify you as either high or low risk for sleep apnea. After that, it’s time to speak to a physician to determine if you qualify for a home sleep test to get a sleep apnea diagnosis at home. Take the first step toward a good night’s sleep.
At-Home Sleep Apnea Diagnosis – Treatments
Mild sleep apnea can sometimes be treated with weight loss, allergy treatments, and smoking cessation. However, the gold standard of treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. This unobtrusive and efficient therapy involves using a CPAP machine to deliver pressurized air that is passed to the individual via a tube and mask. This steady stream of air helps keep the airway passages open and prevent apneas.
Remember, it is very important to get a comfortable, well-fitting mask for CPAP therapy to work properly. In some cases, a BiLevel PAP machine may be recommended as these machines allow for different air pressure on the inhale than the exhale.
The second common treatment option includes the use of oral appliances, which are worn while sleeping to push your jaw forward and therefore, keep the airway open. This tactic tends to not be as effective as PAP therapy. Lastly, physicians do not recommend surgery unless other treatments have failed for at least a three-month period. There are several surgical procedures that can be considered, including procedures to remove tissue, tonsils, and adenoids from the throat, bariatric or weight loss surgery, jaw repositioning, implants that make more space at the back of the throat, nerve stimulation where a device is implanted that stimulates the nerves at the throat to keep the passage open, and tracheostomy for life-threatening sleep apnea.
What Does a Sleep Apnea Diagnosis At Home Consist Of?
The Complete Care package from Sleep Care online consists of:
- A 10-minute telehealth discussion with a healthcare provider to review your symptoms, upcoming sleep study, test results, and discuss treatment options
- Disposable home sleep apnea test equipment; results available the next morning
- A prescription for PAP therapy (if recommended to treat obstructive sleep apnea)
- Access to sleep experts who can offer customized sleep therapy options, assistance in equipment purchase, and initial set-up
Before your initial telehealth appointment, you should make a list of your symptoms, ask your relatives if anyone in your family had a history of sleep issues, prepare a list of all the medications you take with their respective dosages, including vitamins and supplements, and think of any additional questions related to sleep apnea that you would like to ask the doctor.
Is Our At-Home Sleep Apnea Diagnosis The Right Fit For You?
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea after taking our free evaluation, you will need a diagnosis and a prescription in order to treat this sleep disorder. You also will need a prescription in order to take an at-home sleep test. That’s why our convenient complete care package is such a time-saving and cost-effective deal! You get everything you need to find out whether you suffer from OSA as well as the diagnosis and prescription to start CPAP therapy if you do.
The at-home sleep test for sleep apnea diagnosis is a great option for busy people because you can schedule the overnight sleep test for use in your own bed when it is most convenient for you. The test is easy to self-administer, the results are delivered to you securely and quickly, and the diagnosis process is approved by the FDA for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, the test results are reviewed by a healthcare practitioner.
Home Remedies To Treat Sleep Apnea Temporarily
There are several ways to improve your sleep. However, sleep apnea does not go away on its own. Studies have shown that weight loss may decrease obstructive sleep apnea but apnea will return with weight gain. Moderate physical activity (30 minutes) can also help alleviate some symptoms of sleep loss. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol and sleeping pills as both are substances that relax the muscles at the back of the throat. Smoking cessation is also recommended.
How Accurate Are At-Home Sleep Apnea Tests?
At-home sleep tests are accurate and have been approved to measure and diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. The NightOwl disposable home sleep apnea test is a small device that comes with instructions on how to set it up properly before bed. It is fully disposable and fully reliable, with accurate results and recorded data ready to be reviewed the next morning. The results will be analyzed by a sleep expert when you purchase our Complete Care package. Our method for home testing and home sleep apnea diagnosis is cutting-edge, convenient, and accurate.
For more information on the accuracy of home sleep tests, refer to our detailed article.
Interpreting The Results After Sleep Apnea Diagnosis At Home
Your sleep data will be interpreted by our sleep doctors, and you will be provided the diagnosis during an online consultation. While discussing your sleep test results, your doctor will reveal your Apnea-Hypoapnea Index (AHI), which represents the average number of breathing disruptions that occurred during your sleep apnea test. If positive for OSA, your doctor will provide you with a prescription for CPAP equipment. If the outcome of your sleep apnea diagnosis is negative, but your doctor suspects some other type of sleep disorder, he or she may recommend further evaluation.
How Much will my Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis At Home Cost?
Our Complete Care package is priced at $219, much less than an in-lab study, and includes all the items necessary for successful PAP therapy after an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis.
How Long Does it Take for an Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis?
Sleep apnea diagnosis can be completed the same day after you have completed your home sleep apnea test. In a telehealth appointment during the Complete Care process, you will meet with a sleep practitioner to review your results, confirm your diagnosis, and receive a prescription for PAP therapy. You’ll be able to use this prescription to immediately purchase PAP therapy equipment from our online partner, The CPAP Shop.
Why Should You Choose Our Complete Care Package for Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis?
Our Complete Care package for your sleep apnea diagnosis is one of the most convenient and easily accessible ways to start CPAP therapy if you suspect you have OSA. Choose this option if you want to save time and money on a sleep apnea diagnosis, as well as take advantage of personalized equipment recommendations from our sleep experts.
