Sleep apnea is a disorder that can seriously disrupt your sleep patterns as well as your overall quality of life. Sleep apnea is disruptive and can even cause sufferers to go several minutes without breathing due to the muscle tightening at the back of the throat. This tightening blocks breathing pathways and eventually wakes individual up, meaning it is difficult and sometimes almost impossible to get a solid night of rest. This can lead to fatigue, but more importantly it can also cause blood pressure rises, weight gain, stress, stroke, heart attacks and more. Unfortunately, most of these cases go undiagnosed and therefore untreated, leading to serious, long-term effects. Here are the best methods for diagnosing sleep apnea.
In the past it was very difficult to diagnose sleep apnea. It was expensive and inconvenient. Fortunately, modern technology and advances have made sleep apnea testing much more accessible and affordable to patients who wish to be tested. Once prescribed by a doctor, patients can now test themselves from the comfort of their own homes. The individual is instructed to attach small sensors to their fingers, chest, or forehead in order to measure how much oxygen is in the blood. Low-oxygen levels through the night are common signs of sleep apnea problems since it means the sleeper is struggling to breathe. The sensors also keep track of how much and how often a person tosses and turns in the night.
Another test option involves a tube. This tube is places just below the nose. Here it will capture the volume of breathing and snoring as well as the airflow coming in and out of the nose during the sleeping state.
Both options have been thoroughly tested and provide strong results with reliable data and reasoning. Research suggests these tests are reliable and accurate at a rate of approximately 97%.
These test are not only accurate, but they are also much more affordable for patients. In the past, sleep apnea tests could cost thousands of dollars, which is 5 to 10 times the cost of at home testing options. Now, these tests cost an average of $200 meaning they are accessible to the average person even if health insurance does not help with the expenses and fees involved.
Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, a doctor can help you to determine the next steps to alleviate your symptoms. Some may suggest a simple mouth guard for minor cases, while more sever cases may require the use of an air machine next to the bed which pumps air through your nose as you sleep.
No matter the severity of your sleep apnea, getting tested at home is an affordable, convenient way to determine once and for all what is causing your sleep problems. You will then be able to get the appropriate help and treatment to live a more comfortable, relaxed lifestyle. These tests, and information from America respiratory services, in general will help ensure that more and more people are diagnosed so that they do not have to continue to suffer alone without guidance or advice.
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