It is estimated that two to nine percent of all adults have OSA. That said, a home sleep study can be a much more accessible option for those with employer-mandated sleep apnea screenings such as commercial truck drivers or military service members who need to be medically cleared for work. Basically, home sleep testing shouldn’t be used as a general test if you’re curious about your sleep health, but rather, only if you suspect you may have OSA and don’t have other underlying conditions. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) does not recommend using a home sleep test as a general screening method for people who are not at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and who don’t display symptoms. The core takeaway here is that a home sleep test has a high level of accuracy when diagnosing OSA. While this may seem like a bit of a roadblock for those with a more complicated health history, it’s great news for the vast majority of people who are seeking an easy way to test for uncomplicated Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Home Sleep Study Diagnostic CapabilitiesĪ home sleep test, however, is really only qualified to diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A lab sleep study can diagnose all three types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Complex/Mixed Sleep Apnea, and Central Sleep Apnea, which vary based on severity as well as REM sleep disorders, sleep-related seizures, and movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and insomnia. Traditional polysomnography records brain waves, breathing effort, heart rate, oxygen levels, and muscle movements during the various stages of sleep. Again, if you have no underlying health conditions and are only looking to find out if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, then a home sleep test may be your best bet. An in-lab sleep study is a more invasive yet more comprehensive test that can diagnose a wider range of different sleep disorders (not just sleep apnea) when compared to a home sleep test. Polysomnography (In-Lab) Diagnostic Capabilities Traditional polysomnography tests have been the standard approach since the late-eighties to mid-nineties, but with advancements in technology, home sleep apnea tests are an increasingly viable (and convenient) option for diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Your two options are to complete an in-lab sleep study, also known as polysomnography (PSG), or a home sleep study (HST).Ī lab sleep study is far more comprehensive than a home sleep study, but due to the prevalence of undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in people without other health complications, an at-home sleep test is usually suitable for the majority of those who think they may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your sleep health, there’s a good chance they’ll recommend or prescribe an overnight sleep study to further assess your sleep quality. If you’re interested in the home sleep study vs lab sleep study discussion, read on. We’ll be discussing the pros and cons of each approach, including an analysis of the cost, comfort, diagnostic capability, time commitment, time to treatment, equipment involved, and for whom each test is best. To save you time and money, there’s a good chance you can take a simple and affordable home sleep apnea test in the comfort of your home. Keep reading to find out which is best for you and how you can avoid the complexity and wide range of insurance costs commonly associated with traditional lab sleep studies. However, there’s a lot of confusion between taking an at home sleep study vs. The best way to know for sure is to complete a sleep study. Symptoms such as loud snoring, headaches, and feeling tired throughout the day are good indicators that you may have sleep apnea. According to a study from Rutgers University, an estimated 22 million Americans are living with sleep apnea, and 80% of those with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) go undiagnosed.
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