About us
Home Sleep testing
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While it is believed that millions of Canadians suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, another unfortunate element of this condition is that many people have not been diagnosed.
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For some, this is because they may not be aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea. As a result, they may attribute their fatigue to other causes. It can also be especially difficult to notice common sleep apnea symptoms if you don’t share a bed with a partner who notices these disturbances to your sleep during the night.
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However, another issue hindering diagnoses is the inconvenience of a traditional sleep study. The good news is that you no longer have to spend the night at a sleep lab to get a sleep apnea diagnosis. Improving technology has made it so you can get this important diagnosis from the comfort of your own home.
Mission
How Does a Home Sleep Study Work?
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According to Julie Corliss of the Harvard Heart Letter, at home testing is considered accurate for patients who have symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, and don’t have other diagnosed medical problems that could be a major contributing factor. In fact, as many as 70 percent of modern sleep studies are conducted at home.
This testing is non-intrusive and quite easy to manage. As Corliss writes, “You’ll get a small, lightweight monitor, a belt you slip around your midsection, a small finger clip that monitors your oxygen, and an airflow sensor to place under your nose. These sensors and devices measure your oxygen saturation, heart rate, and airflow, as well as the movements of your chest and abdomen and your position while you sleep.”
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Based on these results, sleep specialists will be able to determine whether you have sleep apnea, as well as the severity of your symptoms (typically measured by how many breathing interruptions you experience per hour).
While you may need to wait for the monitoring equipment to arrive from a sleep lab before you can do the test, once you have the monitor, you can do the test on a night that is most convenient for you — and in the comfort of your own bed.
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Vision
Counteracting Sleep Apnea
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Left unchecked, sleep apnea can contribute to a wide range of serious health issues, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. On a day to day basis, extreme fatigue can negatively affect your mood and decision-making abilities. Getting a CPAP machine will go a long way in helping you enjoy quality sleep once more.
Of course, just like with a sleep study, the cost of CPAP equipment can be a barrier for some, especially those who don’t have insurance. This is where Help Medical Supplies comes in. We offer discounted pricing on leading brands like ResMed and Philips Respironics, as well as money-saving bundles that have everything you need to start sleep apnea therapy.
