What is a Sleep Study and How Does it Work?
A sleep study is necessary to diagnose sleep apnea, but that doesn't mean you need to sign up to sleep in an unfamiliar place. Check out the article below to learn about what exactly a sleep study is and what your options are!
Millions of Americans have undiagnosed sleep apnea which means the condition continues to disrupt their rest, leaving them fatigued during the day and vulnerable to other health concerns too. Getting a sleep study is the best way to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis, and then figure out the best treatment plan.
But what exactly IS a sleep study, and how does it work?
How does a sleep study work?
Doctors can’t identify sleep apnea while you’re awake; they can only diagnose it by observing you while you’re asleep. Specifically, a sleep study monitors your oxygen intake and heart rate during the night as well as how often (and for how long) you might stop breathing, wake up, or struggle for air. These observations give sleep doctors a clear idea of whether or not you have sleep apnea, and if so, the severity of it.
The sleep study itself is not one-size fits all, it can be accomplished a couple of different ways.
How does a traditional (in lab) sleep study work?
Historically, the only way to conduct a sleep study was to have you stay overnight at a sleep laboratory for observation. To paint the picture, imagine lying alone in a room trying to sleep on an unfamiliar bed without your own pillows or blankets, and oh yeah - with several sensors attached to your head and chest to gather your sleep data and a staff member who watches you sleep.
This is what most people think of when they hear the term “sleep study” and you can see why it deters so many people from getting evaluated in the first place. Let’s face it, sleeping in a laboratory is no one’s idea of a great way to spend a free evening. In addition, getting an appointment for a sleep study can take several months of waiting. Which is on top of the weeks to months you’ll wait to see your primary doctor to get the necessary referral for said sleep study. So, in conclusion, you wait, wait, and then wait some more – talk about tiring!
Fortunately, there is an alternative…
What is an at-home sleep study & how does it work?
Advances in technology have created the possibility for individuals to capture their sleep pattern data and transfer it to a doctor from the comfort of their very own home… in their very own bed. No clinics, no wires, and no one watching you sleep (except maybe your dog).
GEM utilizes a tool called WatchPAT, a small wearable device (similar to a Fitbit or Apple Watch) that gathers the same information as a traditional sleep study, but in a MUCH more comfortable way. We will mail the device to your home, have you watch a short online tutorial about how to link it to your smartphone, and BOOM, you’re a sleep apnea expert. Well, ok, not an EXPERT, but you’re certainly ready to get evaluated by one.
The WatchPAT One is worn on two spots on your body: a sensor over your index finger and a watch that’s worn on your wrist. Once those are set up and synced to your smartphone, you simply sleep comfortably in your own bed and the phone uploads the data to a GEM Sleep Provider for review.
On top of being easy to self-operate, this method also cuts down drastically on the wait time. The device arrives in days instead of months and is reviewed in a matter of days (not weeks). All of which allows you find out sooner if you have sleep apnea and, if so, start treating it.
Serious medical issues, like a heart disease, COPD or strokes, might require someone to still get a laboratory-based sleep study, but for the majority of people, requesting an at-home test is a quick and easy solution.
Order your home sleep test now!
If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.
GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.
Millions of Americans have undiagnosed sleep apnea which means the condition continues to disrupt their rest, leaving them fatigued during the day and vulnerable to other health concerns too. Getting a sleep study is the best way to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis, and then figure out the best treatment plan.
But what exactly IS a sleep study, and how does it work?
How does a sleep study work?
Doctors can’t identify sleep apnea while you’re awake; they can only diagnose it by observing you while you’re asleep. Specifically, a sleep study monitors your oxygen intake and heart rate during the night as well as how often (and for how long) you might stop breathing, wake up, or struggle for air. These observations give sleep doctors a clear idea of whether or not you have sleep apnea, and if so, the severity of it.
The sleep study itself is not one-size fits all, it can be accomplished a couple of different ways.
How does a traditional (in lab) sleep study work?
Historically, the only way to conduct a sleep study was to have you stay overnight at a sleep laboratory for observation. To paint the picture, imagine lying alone in a room trying to sleep on an unfamiliar bed without your own pillows or blankets, and oh yeah - with several sensors attached to your head and chest to gather your sleep data and a staff member who watches you sleep.
This is what most people think of when they hear the term “sleep study” and you can see why it deters so many people from getting evaluated in the first place. Let’s face it, sleeping in a laboratory is no one’s idea of a great way to spend a free evening. In addition, getting an appointment for a sleep study can take several months of waiting. Which is on top of the weeks to months you’ll wait to see your primary doctor to get the necessary referral for said sleep study. So, in conclusion, you wait, wait, and then wait some more – talk about tiring!
Fortunately, there is an alternative…
What is an at-home sleep study & how does it work?
Advances in technology have created the possibility for individuals to capture their sleep pattern data and transfer it to a doctor from the comfort of their very own home… in their very own bed. No clinics, no wires, and no one watching you sleep (except maybe your dog).
GEM utilizes a tool called WatchPAT, a small wearable device (similar to a Fitbit or Apple Watch) that gathers the same information as a traditional sleep study, but in a MUCH more comfortable way. We will mail the device to your home, have you watch a short online tutorial about how to link it to your smartphone, and BOOM, you’re a sleep apnea expert. Well, ok, not an EXPERT, but you’re certainly ready to get evaluated by one.
The WatchPAT One is worn on two spots on your body: a sensor over your index finger and a watch that’s worn on your wrist. Once those are set up and synced to your smartphone, you simply sleep comfortably in your own bed and the phone uploads the data to a GEM Sleep Provider for review.
On top of being easy to self-operate, this method also cuts down drastically on the wait time. The device arrives in days instead of months and is reviewed in a matter of days (not weeks). All of which allows you find out sooner if you have sleep apnea and, if so, start treating it.
Serious medical issues, like a heart disease, COPD or strokes, might require someone to still get a laboratory-based sleep study, but for the majority of people, requesting an at-home test is a quick and easy solution.
Order your home sleep test now!
If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.
GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.