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Home sleep apnea test
home sleep test · home sleep apnea test · HSAT · overnight breathing monitor · snoring test at home
You take a small device home and sleep with it for one night. It records your breathing, oxygen, and pulse.
For loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, and strong daytime sleepiness.
⏱ Duration: one night at home; results usually come in a few days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Evening. No alcohol or sleeping pills, unless your doctor allowed them. Go to bed at your usual time.
- Fingers. Remove polish from the nail where the sensor will go.
- The device. The nurse will show you how to put on the sensors. Ask to write it down or take photos.
What to bring
- Your referral
- A list of your medicines
- A bag to return the device
How it goes
- At the clinic, you are shown the device and how to put it on
- In the evening before bed, you put a belt with sensors around your chest
- A thin tube goes under your nose, and an oxygen sensor on your finger
- You turn on the device and sleep as usual
- In the morning, you take off the sensors and turn off the device
- You return the device to the clinic the same day
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- The first few minutes feel strange, but most people fall asleep fine
- The tube under your nose may bother you
Afterwards
- Reading the results usually takes a few days
- Take the results to your doctor. They will explain them and suggest treatment
- If a sensor came off at night, say so when you return the device
Common questions
What if I slept badly?
A few hours of sleep is usually enough. If there is too little recording, the test may be repeated.
How is this different from a sleep lab?
At home there are fewer sensors and you sleep in your own bed. For some people, the doctor will still order a sleep lab study.