Normal_SleepApnea
The diagnostic pathway

Based on your symptoms and medical history, to further assess how you’re feeling, your doctor has recommended a sleep test.

Sleep tests: No studying required

A sleep test is a non-invasive, overnight test that is used to determine if you have a sleep disorder. It’s more than just a tool for diagnosing sleep apnea, it paints a better picture of your health by collecting information like oxygen levels, heart rate, brain waves and breathing patterns as you sleep.

Snoring
Home sleep test (HST)

Your doctor may recommend a home sleep test if you’re showing symptoms of a sleep disorder and have not been diagnosed with any other chronic medical conditions. HSTs can be conveniently completed from the comfort of your own bed, reducing the amount of time you have to wait to get tested.1 

Snoring, mood swings, headaches, consistent daytime tiredness and exhaustion are common symptoms of sleep apnea Today, 60% to 70% of sleep studies for sleep apnea are done using home-based tests.2.2 
Receiving your results

Waiting to receive the results of any test can feel unsettling, especially when it’s a test to diagnose a sleep disorder. There’s a waiting period that varies from person-to-person and can range from 2 days up to several weeks.

Why get tested?

During a follow-up appointment, you’ll discuss the results of your sleep test with a doctor or sleep specialist. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, this is typically when you’ll find out your Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which determines the severity of the diagnosis.

Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)

To break it down, the term apnea means that you stop breathing for at least 10 seconds. Hypopnea is when you have a partial blockage of your airway so your breath is more shallow than normal.

When you look at your apnea-hypopnea index, it tells you how many apneas and hypopneas you have per hour while you sleep and gives you an average. For example, if your AHI is 2, you have approximately two incidents of hypopnea or apnea per hour for every hour that you’re asleep.

What should I do if I get a sleep apnea diagnosis?

The first step after any diagnosis is figuring out how best to treat it. And with sleep apnea, it’s important that treatment begins as soon as possible. The good news is that sleep apnea is well-understood, and effective treatments are available.

Understanding your options for treatment can help you and your doctor make an informed decision about the steps you can take next.

Red_Tests
References

1) Source: Kapur et al. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Mar 15;13(3):479-504.

2) Source: Corliss, J., (2020). Harvard Health.

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