Home Sleep Testing

the sleep clinic Serves Metro New Orleans to Baton Rouge

Have you been considering a sleep study but don’t want the inconvenience of having to spend the night in a sleep lab? Do you have a high deductible and are you looking for a less costly alternative? If so, it may be time to learn more about in home sleep testing offered by Sleep Rite across metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults is considered to be a sleep-related breathing disorder.

During sleep, a sufferer of the condition may stop breathing a couple of times throughout the night, or a pause in breathing can occur hundreds of times. They may make choking noises or snore, and the noises can significantly disturb sleep patterns.

The result is that the sufferer does not benefit from a good quality night’s sleep and can experience fatigue during the day. This can have a major impact on their job and lifestyle. OSA can also have negative long-term consequences for health.

Lack of oxygen to your body can be associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and depression.

What is a Home Sleep Test?

Home Testing can be conducted to determine whether you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Testing equipment is worn while you sleep to measure your breathing and blood oxygen levels. The information collected by the equipment will then help your physician to diagnose what conditions you are suffering from, and recommend treatment to improve your quality of life and health as needed.

Who Should Have a Home Sleep Test

You may benefit from a Home Sleep Test if you have no other significant medical conditions, and if it is likely that you have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

If, however, there is a chance that you may have another sleep disorder, or you have been diagnosed with other certain medical conditions, you may not be suitable for home testing.

What are the Benefits?

With home testing, you are able to sleep in the comfort of your own home rather than traveling to a lab. This may be especially important if you have family at home, or if you do not want to disrupt your daily routine, or any evening or morning plans you have made.

You can simply wear the testing equipment while you sleep, and then return the equipment when the test is finished for the specialist to analyze. Home testing is less expensive, saves waiting for an appointment and making arrangements to travel to the lab, and is generally more convenient.

Additionally, while our labs are set up like a luxury hotel, it is still an unfamiliar environment, as opposed to your natural surroundings and your normal routine.

Home Study vs Full Study

A home study is not as comprehensive as a full study, but it is a good first step. A full study is conducted in a sleep lab where polysomnography equipment records numerous body functions to give us a complete picture of your “sleep architecture.”

Home testing, on the other hand, is designed only to look at a few functions to determine whether you have sleep apnea. It’s not perfect, but it can provide us with enough information to allow a competent diagnosis and treatment plan. So call us today to see if home testing is right for you.