How Do You Test For Sleep Apnea At-Home?
Key Takeaways
Sleep apnea affects your sleep and how you feel during the day. Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, brain fog, and frequent nighttime urination.
Dr. Marzban offers an at-home sleep test so you don’t have to spend the night in a sleep lab.
WatchPAT™ is a portable home sleep testing device that records important data, including breathing, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and stages of sleep.
Sleep apnea treatment is tailored to your unique anatomy, the severity of your condition, and your comfort and needs. Treatment options may include custom oral appliance therapy and myofunctional therapy.
Do you wake up in the morning fatigued even though you thought you slept for hours? Do you snore loud enough to wake your partner? Do you wake up gasping for air in the middle of the night? If these symptoms sound familiar, you may have sleep apnea. The good news is that Dr. Marzban offers at-home sleep testing with WatchPAT, an FDA-approved, portable home sleep testing device. Learn more about sleep apnea symptoms in this blog, what to expect from an at-home test, and how Dr. Marzban uses advanced home sleep technology to help identify potential sleep disorders.
To schedule an in-person appointment, call our office at 703-323-8200, or you can schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Marzban to discuss any sleep apnea concerns.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
The causes of sleep apnea can vary, but obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type. It occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax while you sleep, making it harder for air to move freely through your airway. Common factors that can contribute to or increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea include:
Obesity⎯Extra weight around the neck can put pressure on the airway, increasing the risk of obstruction.
Airway anatomy⎯Some people are more prone to airway obstruction because of their anatomy, including a narrow throat, enlarged tonsils, or a larger tongue.
Age⎯Obstructive sleep apnea becomes more common with age.
Alcohol⎯Drinking alcohol before bed can relax the throat muscles, making it easier for the airway to become blocked during sleep.
Nasal congestion⎯Allergies or chronic nasal obstruction can make nighttime breathing more difficult.
Smoking⎯Smoking can irritate the upper airway and contribute to inflammation and swelling.
Medical conditions⎯Certain health conditions, including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), may be associated with a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
What Are Signs & Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea can happen during the day, and most commonly, at night. Because many of the common signs occur while you’re sleeping, you may not realize you have the condition. Common signs and symptoms include:
Loud, frequent snoring
Pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking during sleep
Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep
Waking up frequently during the night
Morning headaches, dry mouth or sore throat
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Mood changes or irritability
Frequent nighttime urination
How Dr. Marzban Tests for Sleep Apnea At-Home with WatchPAT™
Dr. Marzban is the only dentist in Burke, Fairfax Station, Fairfax, and the Northern Virginia area offering the WatchPAT™, an FDA-approved, portable home sleep testing device. WatchPAT makes it easy to collect important sleep data from the comfort of your own bed. All you need to do is wear the device while you sleep, and it records key measurements that help evaluate whether you have sleep apnea.
What Does the WatchPAT Measure?
While you sleep, the device measures the following results, and helps determine if you have sleep apnea and how severe it is.
Breathing patterns to detect pauses and shallow breathing
Blood oxygen levels to detect drops that can put stress on your body
Sleep stages to understand how your body moves through different stages of sleep
WatchPAT Sleep Apnea Test Process
Dr. Marzban provides the WatchPAT™ device with instructions on how to use it
Wear the device overnight
Stop the recording in the morning
The device records everything automatically, and the results are sent to us electronically
Dr. Marzban will review the data and put together a personalized treatment plan
SleepImage® Sleep Ring Sleep Apnea Test Process
Dr. Marzban provides the Sleep Ring with instructions on how to use it
Wear the ring overnight
Stop the recording in the morning through the app
The device records everything automatically, and the results are sent to us electronically
Dr. Marzban will review the data and put together a personalized treatment plan
What is Treatment For Sleep Apnea?
Instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, Dr. Marzban develops a treatment plan around your individual anatomy, sleep apnea severity, and comfort, and also works alongside a myofunctional therapist to provide coordinated care. Depending on your results, your treatment plan may include one or more of these approaches:
Oral appliance therapy⎯Custom oral appliances like the MicrO₂®, Vivos®, and EMA® gently reposition your jaw and tongue to keep your airway open.
Myofunctional therapy⎯Simple muscle exercises can help retrain the tongue, lips, and facial muscles to support a more stable airway and help reduce sleep apnea severity.
Marzban, DDS, Offers At-Home Sleep Apnea Testing in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station & Northern Virginia
If you’d like to get tested for sleep apnea, Dr. Marzban offers convenient, at-home testing for patients in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, and throughout Northern Virginia. With advanced sleep technology and personalized care, we’ll create a treatment plan so you can get restful sleep to improve your overall health. Contact Marzban, DDS, today to learn more about our at-home sleep apnea test by calling us at 703-323-8200 or filling out our online form.
FAQs
-
A home sleep apnea test helps determine whether you have obstructive sleep apnea without spending the night in a sleep lab. You’ll use the device overnight, and the recorded data will be reviewed by Dr. Marzban to your treatment plan.
-
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through an evaluation using cutting-edge diagnostic technology. Depending on your symptoms and health history, Dr. Marzban may recommend an at-home sleep apnea test.
-
Some people experience significant improvement or remission, but others need ongoing treatment to manage the condition.
