Here is a quick guide on which sleep study to choose. Following these guidelines will ensure you get the most out of your investment and getting a complete enough picture of your sleep patterns and overall health so our sleep technicians and staff can assist you in understanding your sleep disorder and treating it.
We offer four types of sleep analysis, varying from a simple and free online questionnaire to a high-end in-home multi-channel respiratory sleep study. Read the following to decide which one is best for you.
1. Free Questionnaire
If you are unsure if Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is affecting you, take our free questionnaire here. Results will be emailed to you with guidance of what to do next.
2. SleepStrip Screening
If after reading the above information you feel it’s a possibility that you have OSA, but you are in no rush to sort it out, then order a SleepStrip from our screening section. This is a simple disposable device worn overnight and will provide a score from 0-3 as a guide to the likelihood you are suffering from OSA. This alone is not enough to get treatment for OSA so if you do want to sort out your sleep fast you may as well skip this and move on to one of the next two options immediately and save the money.
3. Finger Pulse Oximetry Sleep Study
If after reading this information you can identify with many of the risks, signs and symptoms and are fairly confident OSA may be a problem for you or you want to be able to order therapy equipment right away after confirming OSA, then take the in-home Finger Pulse Oximetry sleep study. This involves a medical device which is rented for one or two nights during which it will monitor your blood oxygen levels and heart rate whilst you are sleeping. A sleep technician will study the data and you will be sent a detailed report within 5-7 days. If conclusive, treatment options can be ordered right after the results are in.
4. Multi-Channel Respiratory Sleep Study
If point 3 above applies to you but you have significant health problems such as progressed heart or lung disease or diabetes, or if you have a BMI under 25 or over 40, or you simply want the most comprehensive sleep data available as an in home study, then it is advisable you order the Multi-Channel Respiratory sleep study. In addition to the blood oxygen and heart rate, this will also monitor your respiratory flow and chest effort to breath.
If not overweight...
To clarify, if you snore and suspect obstructive sleep apnoea but you are not overweight, option 4 is the only sleep study that can give enough data for the sleep technician or physician to come to a conclusive opinion and recommend treatment options.
If extremely overweight...
If you are morbidly obese with difficulty breathing deeply when lying down or you have other significant health issues like heart disease, option 4 is the only sleep study that gives enough data to investigate your sleep properly. However, this may still not be enough, even if OSA was confirmed, to proceed with private treatment as it may be preferred that you see a consultant for your other health issues.
If slightly to moderately overweight...
In other words, if you have never had any significant health issues and are just a bit overweight, option 3 is a great choice and in most cases is enough to seek treatment straight after. If you fall in this category but want to know everything there is to know, option 4 would be recommended highly.
Snoring can for some be just snoring – but if you are in doubt at all, particularly if you are overweight and tired all the time, choose one of our sleep studies above. Knowing what you are dealing with and getting effective treatment, could have you back to leading a full and energetic life in no time! If you are still unsure, just contact us and we will help you pick the right one. But don't wait too long; get the sleep you deserve!
