| Technology has come a long way and studying sleep | | | | This way if you have severe sleep apnea you can be |
| is no exception. We are now able to perform sleep | | | | treated right away instead of waiting. You also are |
| studies in the home as well as the sleep lab. This is a | | | | able to be evaluated for other conditions you may |
| great thing because it allows more people to be | | | | not know you had. |
| tested for sleep disorders then every before. The | | | | Treating sleep apnea after the home sleep study can |
| drawback is that there are limitations to what can be | | | | occur in two different ways as well. You can be |
| done in the home versus the lab. | | | | brought into the sleep lab for a titration study. During |
| In home sleep studies are generally modified | | | | this test the technician finds a mask that works for |
| unsupervised sleep studies. This means that the | | | | you, educates you about CPAP and how it works |
| equipment is delivered to the patient and then they | | | | and then finds the right pressure to eliminate most of |
| are responsible for applying it and taking it off. In | | | | the apneas and snoring. This test also allows the |
| some areas a technician will come out in the evening | | | | doctor to look for the other disorders such as |
| to apply the equipment and you will wear it the rest | | | | periodic limb movements. |
| of the night, then you may have to take it off or | | | | The other option for treatment is to have a home |
| the technician will come back in the morning and | | | | care company deliver an auto-titrating CPAP. This |
| remove it. Generally these types of studies are | | | | machine is set to allow a range in pressure that |
| limited in nature and only monitors certain | | | | adjusts as you have events during the night. The |
| parameters, oxygen level, heart rate, breathing, and | | | | technician will fit you for a mask and then leave the |
| whether you are awake or sleep and position. | | | | machine for you to use. The drawback is that there |
| Because the study is limited it is designed strictly to | | | | is no one there during that first night to assist you if |
| diagnoses sleep apnea. Other conditions a person | | | | there is an issue. The other issue is that unless you |
| may have will not be diagnosed, such a periodic limb | | | | call your doctor or the company that delivered the |
| movement disorder and teeth grinding. This type of | | | | machine they may not be able to correct any |
| testing is also not good for patient with significant | | | | problems that happen until they download the |
| health issues such as congestive heart failure or | | | | information in the CPAP memory. |
| COPD. | | | | Overall home sleep studies do have a place in the |
| In lab testing has several differences. The first one is | | | | diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. They are |
| there is a technician there with you if any problems | | | | very good for diagnosing the straight forward sleep |
| should arise. If one of the wires become dislodged it | | | | apnea patient. If, however, there is any issues that |
| can be fixed right away. You do not need to have | | | | need to be addressed right away or if a person |
| another study performed. The technician is also there | | | | needs some assistance this may not be the best |
| to answer questions should you have any during the | | | | choice. A full sleep study allows for the possibility for |
| nights. The most important role of the technician, | | | | quicker treatment and intervention. There is also the |
| however, is that they can intervene if there is a | | | | ability to diagnose other conditions that might go |
| significant health issue during the night. They can also | | | | unnoticed in the home setting. That and the personal |
| do a special type of study called a split night, or | | | | care involved in testing help to create a successful |
| combination study, which allows you to be diagnosed | | | | long term care situation. |
| and treated for your sleep apnea on the same night. | | | | |