Whether you’re experiencing symptoms like repeated daytime fatigue, snoring or waking up suddenly feeling short of breath, it’s probably time to stop ignoring the symptoms and face the possibility that you may be dealing with sleep apnea.
Having sleep apnea is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a sleeping disorder that impacts millions of Americans and can be controlled with treatment. But first, you have to figure out if you have sleep apnea, and if so, what type of sleep apnea. In most cases, the easiest way to diagnose sleep apnea is with a sleep test, and we want you to be prepared for what you’ll encounter during that sleep test.
The Lab Sleep Test
As the name points out, this sleep test takes place in a lab setting. This test involves you being hooked up to specialized equipment designed to monitor you as you sleep. While you’re asleep, a team will monitor things like your heart rate, your breathing levels, your brain waves and any movement in your arms and legs. If the results show you stop breathing throughout the night, you likely have sleep apnea.
The Home Sleep Test
While rarer than the lab sleep test, it’s possible your doctor may have you run a test on your own sleeping habits at home using a home sleep test. These tests allow you the opportunity to experience the comfort of your normal sleeping environment. Your doctor will instruct you how to use a machine that will gather information on your sleeping habits and you will return the results to your doctor for analysis.
Sleep tests are all about you maintaining a normal routine so your sleep results can be accurate. The exception to this rule is if you tend to take naps during the day, you should probably skip them on the day of your sleep text. It doesn’t hurt to lay off caffeine on test day, either.
If your sleep test reveals that you have sleep apnea, Advanced Sleep Medicine is here for you. We have CPAP machines, CPAP masks and accessories you need to start sleeping more effectively each night.
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