Disclaimer: It’s important to note that natural remedies of any kind are not a replacement for professional medical approved treatment options and should be used alongside other treatment options. You should also make your treating physician aware of any natural sleep apnea remedies you are trying or plan to try to make sure they won’t interfere with the treatment they prescribe.
When you present with sleep apnea symptoms, most doctors will recommend you undergo a sleep study so that a formal diagnosis can be given. There are three main tests which can be recommended, they are:nocturnal polysomnography, oximetry & arterial blood gas testing. Below the video each test is outlined in detail:
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Nocturnal Polysomnography:
Person ready for a NPSG
This is the most common test given to people who are suspected of having sleep apnea. It involves an overnight stay in a sleep clinic and sometimes multiple tests of this nature need to be done (this is usually to see if there has been any improvement after treatment).
When you arrive at the sleep clinic they will get you to perform a number of breathing tests while awake, this is to get a baseline for your breathing and lung capacities.
Then they hook you up to a number of monitors, these monitor the following: heart, lung and brain activity, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels & leg and arm movements. By monitoring all of this they are able to rule out other sleep disorders which could be causing your sleep apnea like symptoms. For example they track leg and arm movements to
see if you could be suffering from restless leg syndrome. By monitoring all of this they are also able to determine what type of sleep apnea you have; obstructive or central.
Arterial Blood Gas Testing:
Arterial blood gas testing is most widely used when a patient is suspected of suffering from CSA. The test involves taking a blood sample from an artery, usually from the wrist. This is then measured for both carbon dioxide and oxygen levels. Patients with CSA will have a higher than normal level of carbon dioxide in their blood system, usually a result from the underlying cause of the central sleep apnea. Another sample is taken after treatment has been occuring for a certain period of time (1-6 months) to see if there is any improvement.
Embletta X100-Embla Home Sleep Testing Device
Available exclusively from SGS, the Embletta X100 represents a new dimension in home sleep testing available to dentists. Embletta X100 is one of the only devices that meets the guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and CMS (Medicare).
The Embletta system was introduced in 2000 and has a proven track record of success. With over 5,000 systems in use by sleep clinics and hospitals it is the most popular home sleep study device available.
The Embletta X100 boats an amazing set of features however one of the best features is something it doesn’t have – high cost disposables. The per study cost of an Embletta X100 is only about $8.
