Hello, and welcome to your home sleep apnea test. In this video, we provide an overview of what a home sleep apnea test is, how to wear the equipment, and what to expect after your test is complete. Let's get started. A home sleep apnea test involves a device that you wear at home to monitor your breathing during sleep. Home sleep apnea tests are used to check for obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Detecting and treating sleep apnea may enable you to feel less tired, more alert, and more productive during your day. You can also improve your health and prevent serious health concerns such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, and strokes. That is the goal of a home sleep apnea test, to help you on your way to a healthier life and a good night's sleep. The first step in determining if you have sleep apnea is for your doctor to conduct a physical exam and comprehensive sleep evaluation. This will identify signs and symptoms that indicate an increased risk of sleep apnea. These warning signs include excessive daytime sleepiness, diagnosed high blood pressure, habitual loud snoring, and either silent breathing pauses, gasping, or choking. If you have some or all of these symptoms, then your doctor may order a home sleep apnea test for you. Prior to the actual test, the physician or staff member will provide you with an explanation of the equipment you will use and instructions for how to put it on properly for the best results. Your provider will set up a tutorial and give you instructions on how to properly apply a home sleep apnea test sensors. You will receive a package of equipment to take home for your sleep test. It is also possible that the equipment will be shipped directly to your home. On the night of your home sleep apnea test, you will prepare the testing equipment when you get ready for bed. To begin, you'll need to remove all of the testing equipment from the case. Please keep in mind, not all testing equipment is the same. Some may have more or less pieces. Regardless, your module can provide accurate testing results. Please remember that no matter the type of home sleep apnea test utilized, all sensors and parts of the device are critically important for you to wear. For home sleep apnea tests that utilize belts to measure your breathing effort, you will start by connecting the belt around your midsection just above the belly button. Tighten the belt to prevent it from slipping down to the waistline, and it should remain in place without discomfort. Next, you'll place the second belt across your chest. For men, this will be around the nipple line. For women, it will be over your breasts. It is important that this belt does not move while you sleep, so tighten so the strap stays in place but is not uncomfortable. You should still be able to move your arms freely without this belt dropping or shifting. If necessary, ask someone to help you put the belts on. Next is the nose piece to monitor breathing through your nose. The tubing will go over your ears, and the prongs go into the nostrils. You may use medical tape on your cheeks to keep the tubing in place. If there are any other sensors that need to be placed on your body, put them on next and ensure that they are properly secured before lying down for the night. Place the finger sensor over your index finger. Some of these finger sensors may come as wraps, while others require you to pull a plastic tab after you have inserted your finger fully into the probe. It is important to remember to remove any type of nail polish or gels from your finger prior to the test, as these can interfere with the readings and affect the testing accuracy. There are a variety of home sleep apnea tests, and each may have different sensors and equipment. Ensure that you have all the pieces in place and they cannot move easily. Some providers may ask that you have a quick telemedicine visit so a sleep technologist can ensure that you have the equipment set up correctly for the highest chance of a successful test. Other providers may request that you keep a sleep diary or fill out a post-test questionnaire. Please fill out this paperwork completely, as it will provide your sleep medicine physician important information for your home sleep apnea test interpretation. You are now ready to turn on your test. This is different on all equipment, but be sure that the display or indicator on your unit is ready for you to begin sleep. Contact your physician or clinic with any questions that may arise. Sleep as you normally would. If you get up in the middle of the night for any reason, including using the restroom, do not remove the equipment. If you awaken during the night and find that a sensor became detached or misplaced, please adjust or reapply the sensor to help ensure that your home sleep apnea test functions properly. When you wake up in the morning, remove the sensors and place all of the equipment back into the packaging. After the final night of your sleep test, return everything to the sender or your physician's office. At this point, your sleep test will be scored and interpreted by your sleep medicine team. After a successful test, you will follow up with either your referring physician or your sleep medicine physician, who will discuss the results with you. If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will talk to you about your treatment options. A home sleep apnea test is one of the most effective ways of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, and it can help you return to great, healthy sleep. For additional information about sleep apnea, please visit sleepeducation.org.

home sleep apnea test

breathing monitoring

obstructive sleep apnea

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