If you feel like you wake up more tired than you were when you went to bed or have trouble making it through the day without caffeine, or additional symptoms like headaches in the morning or difficulty concentrating, you may need a sleep test to diagnose a sleep disorder. Coastal Virginia Sleep Solutions can work with you to coordinate sleep testing at home or in the lab to help you figure out what’s going on.
When Do I Need A Sleep Test?
Sleep apnea can be difficult to diagnose, and it often goes undiagnosed in patients with difficulty sleeping. However, if you’re experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, there’s a good chance you may have sleep apnea or a sleep disorder. These include:
- Feeling tired after a full night’s sleep
- Depression and irritability
- Waking up with headaches
- Snoring
- Waking up throughout the night
- High blood pressure
- Falling asleep while driving
- Unexplained weight gain
A sleep test can often be life-saving if you have obstructive sleep apnea and will put you on the road to an improved quality of life.
Types of Sleep Testing
Dr. Harper provides both in-lab sleep testing and at-home sleep testing. One might be recommended over the other depending on the severity of your symptoms.
In-lab sleep testing is conducted in a lab setting and monitored by medical professionals. While you’re sleeping, various metrics are monitored and recorded. These include eye and leg movements, blood oxygen level, brain waves, heart rate, and breathing. Through this, doctors can diagnose if you have a sleep disorder.
If you’re currently using a CPAP machine and not getting the relief you need, this can also be used to see if the device needs to be adjusted or if another treatment plan would work better.
Sleep testing in the comfort of your own home is ideal for many people. The at-home kit will have specific instructions to follow, as well as tools for monitoring you while you sleep. However, not all patients are eligible. If you have certain medical conditions or the doctor is worried about your symptoms, you’ll probably have to use the in-lab option.
An at-home test is also only monitored by you. There are no doctors there to look at the metrics that are coming out. It’s important to take note of all of the detailed information you can so that you can relay it to the doctor. You’re the only way for them to know what’s going on.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Hampton Roads, Virginia
At Coastal Virginia Sleep Solutions, we provide both testing and treatment for sleep apnea. Once your particular case of sleep apnea is observed and diagnosed, we’ll set you up for the treatment that we think will fit best for you. Getting treatment for sleep apnea isn’t something you should wait on. Call us today at (757) 600-0861 or schedule an appointment online to schedule your free sleep screening!