Home sleep apnea testing provides a board certified sleep medicine physician with the information he or she needs to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
It allows you to sleep at home wearing equipment that collects information about how you breathe during sleep. You will usually set up the testing equipment yourself following the instructions given by NMSA. There are a variety of home sleep apnea testing devices that have different sensors and equipment. These devices measure your breathing and blood oxygen level. Some also may measure your heart rate or other information about your body. Home sleep apnea testing is used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. A physician may recommend home sleep testing if:
It is highly likely that you have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
You have no significant medical conditions other than the suspected obstructive sleep apnea
You should not have a home sleep test if:
You do not have a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea
The physician suspects you may have another sleep disorder
You have certain medical conditions including pulmonary diseases, neuromuscular diseases or congestive heart failure
In these cases, your physician may recommend an in-lab sleep study instead of a home sleep apnea test.