Is Home Sleep Testing For Me?
Home sleep testing has been very controversial over the last year.
The idea of home sleep can be threatening to a lab.
This is not the case.
I believe that this type of testing is perfect for those patients who refuse to come in to a sleep lab, patients who have no insurance or a large deductible, or the people who are in an area where there is a long wait.
The home sleep equipment we use is the Respironics Stardust.
With this equipment we monitor breathing, snoring, oxygen level, heart rate and body position.
What we are not able to test is if the stage of sleep of the patient, bruxism or teeth grinding, leg movements caused by restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder or any kind of heart arrhythmia.
The nice thing for those with no insurance is that it will cost about half of what a full sleep study costs.
Many companies will even give you a slight discount if you pay up front.
If you are found to have sleep apnea there are several ways it can be handled.
The most common and probably the most accurate is to come into a sleep lab and have a CPAP Titration study performed.
This will allow you to have someone who will find the best pressure using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
It will also allow a trained technician to help you choose a mask that works for you.
The added benefit is that all the things testing that the home sleep test missed.
Other options such as Auto titrating CPAP can be used as a way of titrating a person.
It uses a machine that adjusts the pressure of the machine every two to three breathes.
It is done at home over a period of time.
The drawback to this type of testing is that if there are problem they can not be corrected unless the patient calls the company for help.
Surgical solutions are available for some patients; however there is a low success rate and surgery can be expensive.
Oral appliances are offered by some physicians and dentists.
This might be a good alternative to a patient who has primary snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea.
It depends on where the restriction is that causes the sleep apnea.
These cost about $500 and they are not always covered by insurance.
As our economy changes healthcare has to change as well.
This type of innovation allows more people to have tests that might not have been able to afford testing otherwise.
As we move forward I am sure there are more innovations coming.
I am excited to see and share new technology as it becomes available.
The idea of home sleep can be threatening to a lab.
This is not the case.
I believe that this type of testing is perfect for those patients who refuse to come in to a sleep lab, patients who have no insurance or a large deductible, or the people who are in an area where there is a long wait.
The home sleep equipment we use is the Respironics Stardust.
With this equipment we monitor breathing, snoring, oxygen level, heart rate and body position.
What we are not able to test is if the stage of sleep of the patient, bruxism or teeth grinding, leg movements caused by restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder or any kind of heart arrhythmia.
The nice thing for those with no insurance is that it will cost about half of what a full sleep study costs.
Many companies will even give you a slight discount if you pay up front.
If you are found to have sleep apnea there are several ways it can be handled.
The most common and probably the most accurate is to come into a sleep lab and have a CPAP Titration study performed.
This will allow you to have someone who will find the best pressure using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
It will also allow a trained technician to help you choose a mask that works for you.
The added benefit is that all the things testing that the home sleep test missed.
Other options such as Auto titrating CPAP can be used as a way of titrating a person.
It uses a machine that adjusts the pressure of the machine every two to three breathes.
It is done at home over a period of time.
The drawback to this type of testing is that if there are problem they can not be corrected unless the patient calls the company for help.
Surgical solutions are available for some patients; however there is a low success rate and surgery can be expensive.
Oral appliances are offered by some physicians and dentists.
This might be a good alternative to a patient who has primary snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea.
It depends on where the restriction is that causes the sleep apnea.
These cost about $500 and they are not always covered by insurance.
As our economy changes healthcare has to change as well.
This type of innovation allows more people to have tests that might not have been able to afford testing otherwise.
As we move forward I am sure there are more innovations coming.
I am excited to see and share new technology as it becomes available.
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