At Home Sleep, Study v/s Lab Sleep Study

Various studies indicate that Sleep Apnea affects an estimated 40 lakh people in India, with 80% of them having moderate or severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea and remaining undiagnosed. Loud snoring, headaches, and daytime fatigue are all indicative of Sleep Apnea. Conducting a sleep study is the best way to confirm the condition, but there is often confusion between at-home and in-lab sleep studies.

How to get diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?

If you discuss your sleep health with your doctor or healthcare provider, it’s likely that they may recommend or prescribe an overnight sleep study to better analyze your sleep quality. The 2 types of sleep study are An in-lab sleep study, often known as polysomnography (PSG), or a home sleep study  (HST).

Although a lab sleep study is far more comprehensive than a home sleep study, due to the high prevalence of undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in people without other health problems, an at-home sleep test is usually sufficient for the majority of people who suspect they may have the condition.

Traditional polysomnography tests have been the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea since the late 1980s and early 1990s, but with technological developments, home sleep apnea testing is becoming more common and an extremely viable way to diagnose OSA.

At Home Sleep Study: How Does it Work?

A simple breathing monitor is used in a home sleep apnea test to detect your breathing, oxygen levels, and breathing effort.

Your physician can assist you in selecting a tiny, light, and self-administered home sleep study device. However, not all tests are created equal, and while some require less equipment than others, you should expect to obtain the following:

• Soft electrodes that adhere to your skin and are usually worn on the chest.
• A little pulse oximeter can be worn on one’s finger.
• A chest band that tracks sleeping postures and measures breath volume and frequency.
• A nasal cannula is used to monitor airflow. A cannula contains two prongs that go into the nostrils and are secured by wrapping over the ears, similar to an oxygen mask.

A small data-recording device, roughly the size of a smartphone, connects all these sensors. You return the machine to the sleep lab for analysis at the end of the night. Your provider receives the results via email, and you can discuss your findings, diagnosis, and treatment choices.

Lab Sleep Study: How does it work?

It includes spending the night in either a hospital’s sleep laboratory or an outpatient sleep clinic. Electrodes linked to your head and body track your brain waves, respiration, and movement as you sleep. A technician uses a hidden camera to keep an eye on you as you sleep.

Polysomnography records the following while the patient is sleeping:

• Breathing cycle (respiration)
• Heart rate
• Level of oxygen in the blood
• Brain waves
• Muscle tone
• Leg Movements
• Eye movements

The patient’s body fluctuates between two phases during a polysomnography exam, known as rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) (NREM).

The sleep specialist carefully monitors the patient’s body reactions and sleep cycles to detect any abnormalities in the sleep pattern. An individual without sleep disorders shifts from non-REM to REM every 2 hours, experiencing a total of 4 to 6 sleep cycles per night.

Home Sleep Study and Lab Sleep Study costs

The home sleep study cost

The cost of a sleep study exam in India varies from Rs 8000 to Rs 20000. The cost is determined by the type of sleep research and the amenities offered.

Because of the need for quiet conditions and night sleep, the majority of sleep studies are conducted at home. Diagnostic centers teach their specialists how to conduct the exam at home with all of the necessary sleep study equipment.

Lab Sleep Study cost

Which Sleep Test is better for you?

The Department of Transportation mandates that certain workers, like commercial truck drivers, undergo sleep apnea examinations. These individuals should only receive an in-lab sleep study when absolutely necessary.

If you or your health care practitioner suspect you are at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and you have no prior or underlying health issues. A sleep study at home is most likely the best fit for you.

You’ll need to undergo a sleep study in a lab if you have a history of substantial heart or lung disease, a neuromuscular condition like ALS or MS, stroke, persistent opioid use, or significant pre-existing sleep disorders.

Conclusion

Each form of sleep study has advantages and disadvantages, so perhaps you now have a better idea of which one would be best for you. While not all tests are made equal, there are significant advantages to getting tested—period.

Talk to your healthcare physician or schedule a consultation with our telemedicine partner now to learn about your options for home sleep apnea testing if someone has told you that you snore loudly, feel tired during the day, or never wake up feeling refreshed.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for general knowledge only. Consult your doctor for personalized advice and treatment. Medikart HealthCare not liable for any actions taken based on this info.