Sleep Apnea & 
(281) 363-2770Home Sleep Study – The Woodlands, TX
Have Sleep Apnea Diagnosed in Your Own Bed
Dr. Dernick can help you find a solution for your sleep apnea in The Woodlands, but before he can do that, it’s important to confirm that your symptoms really are the result of a sleep disorder. Hence, before beginning sleep apnea treatment, you’ll need to undergo a sleep study. Traditionally, this has been performed in a special laboratory; however, many people find they have trouble relaxing when they’re hooked up to a machine in a strange location. That’s why many prefer the option of a home sleep study. If you think you might have sleep apnea, get in touch with us to start learning more about the steps to having a study done.
What is a Home Sleep Study?
A sleep study, simply put, lets us see exactly what’s happening while you slumber. A special monitoring device can be worn overnight to gather data that can be analyzed in order to look for signs of a disorder. Home sleep studies involve special devices that you’ll wear in the comfort of your own bed before returning them.
During the study itself, the device will measure the following variables:
- Your sleeping heart rate
- Oxygen level (with low oxygen levels being a likely sign of breathing interruptions)
- Blood pressure (which tends to rise in patients suffering from sleep apnea)
- Limb movement (in other words, whether you’re moving around at night)
- Breathing effort (which should give us an idea if your breathing is being interrupted or not)
Do I Need a Sleep Study?
Generally speaking, sleep studies are only performed if sleep apnea or another sleep disorder is already expected. You may want to look into having one done if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- You are constantly sleepy or exhausted during the day even after what was apparently a full night’s sleep.
- You find yourself constantly feeling anxious, depressed, or irritable.
- You have suddenly gained an unusual amount of wait.
- Your partner tells you that you have been snoring loudly at night.
- You sometimes wake up gasping for air.
- You tend to suffer from dry mouth or a sore throat in the morning.
- You are already suffering from heart problems, diabetes, and other chronic conditions that are associated with sleep apnea.
What Happens During a Home Sleep Study?
An in-home sleep study will let you avoid the hassle and inconvenience of visiting the lab (and is generally less costly as well). Once you have been prescribed the sleep study kit, you’ll be told to wear the device in bed for a certain number of nights. (Sometimes only one night’s worth of data is necessary while in other cases you’ll need to use the device for multiple nights.) Make sure that you’ve attached the various pieces correctly according to the instructions you receive. After everything is set up, you only need to sleep like you normally do. Once you have the results, an expert should be able to use them to determine whether sleep apnea is present.