If you have trouble sleeping, and all signs point to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), then you need a diagnosis. At one time, this meant trying to rest in a lab setting. However, we’re proud to offer our Spring, TX, residents an alternative with the home sleep test.
Lab Settings and CPAP
In the past, assessing the presence of sleep apnea meant you would be hooked up to a number of machines and forced to try and sleep in an uncomfortable lab setting, away from home. This meant we could never see your natural sleep state and you would have been more likely to wake up in the night anyway. In addition, this could be very inconvenient for people. Treatment would then require a CPAP machine, which involved wearing a mask over your nose and mouth as you slept. The mask would be connected to a special machine via a plastic hose, a loud machine that pumped air through the hose and into the mask to ensure uninterrupted breathing at night. While effective, many people struggled with this device, finding it cumbersome, uncomfortable, and loud. Fortunately, we have alternatives to both of these options to help you enjoy a night free of apneic episodes!
Home Tests and Personalized Sleep Solutions
Now, if you begin to experience the warning signs of sleep apnea, such as waking up gasping for air or choking, dry mouth, headaches, daytime drowsiness, moodiness, and trouble focusing on tasks, then we will send you home with a small machine. As you sleep comfortably in your own bed, the machine measures your breathing exertion, blood oxygen-levels, and any apneic occurrences. At our office, we will look at these results and find out if you benefit from treatment.
If so, we will no longer need to recommend the CPAP machine. Instead, we have an alternative with an oral appliance. Our team will gather detailed impressions, images, and measurements of your smile, combining this information to create a custom-made appliance that looks and fits like a simple mouthguard. The device is worn as you sleep at night, and actually reposition the jaw, moving it forward, to prevent the collapse of soft issues and breathing cessation that occurs during apneic episodes. You breathe without interruption and feel more rested and alert during the day. Over time, this improves your quality of life and helps you avoid the symptoms of your sleep disorder. If you have any questions about our home sleep test or personalized sleep solutions, then please contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Need Sleep Treatment?
Being well-rested mean enjoying a better quality of life and feeling more alert during the day. To learn more about our unique sleep solutions, then call Houston Sleep Solutions in Spring, TX, at (281) 320-2000, or in Pearland, TX, at (832) 564-3508.
