Your doctor may recommend a home-based sleep test to determine if you have sleep apnea or to determine how well your treatment for sleep apnea is working.
The system consists of a small recording device, sensors, belts and related cables and accessories. A portable monitor will record some of the same information as a PSG. For example, it may record:
- The amount of oxygen in your blood
- How much air is moving through your nose while you breathe
- Your heart rate
- Chest movements that show whether you're making an effort to breathe.
Home testing is not for everyone. You will need to discuss the test with your physician. A sleep center overnight study may provide a more definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea and help detect a wide variety of other sleep disorders.
What to expect
If your doctor recommends this test, you will need to visit one of our sleep centers or your doctor's office to pick up the equipment and receive instructions for how to use it.
The sleep recorder gathers important data as you sleep in your own bed. It receives information from sensors that are applied to strategic locations on your body:
- You may wear a belt around your chest and stomach to measure your breathing effort helping doctors determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea.
- Sensors near your mouth and nose may measure your airflow.
- Your blood oxygen level may be monitored because obstructive sleep apnea may cause decreased oxygen in your blood. It is measured using a pulse oximeter on your fingertip.