The most accurate way to diagnose sleep apnea is an overnight polysomnography study, also known as a polysomnogram or PSG. This study, performed in a lab similar to a hotel room, includes several monitors to measure muscle movements, heart rate and blood oxygen levels, snoring and sleep stages. It is also able to determine how severe the apnea is based on the number of pauses in breathing.

However, a polysomnogram is not an option for everyone, particularly those who live far from a sleep center or have difficulty booking an appointment in a timely manner. To help make the diagnosis more accessible, sleep specialists now offer at-home sleep apnea tests that allow patients to take a test from the comfort of their own home.

How a Sleep Apnea Test Can Help Diagnose Your Condition

These at-home sleep apnea testing devices are not available for sale over the counter, but only through a prescription from a primary care physician or a doctor at a sleep clinic. Typically, the provider will pre-screen you for obstructive sleep apnea and then prescribe the device and explain how to use it at home.

The most popular at-home sleep apnea test, the Sleep Doctor, uses a wristband that wraps around your wrist and sensors that attach to your finger and forehead. The wrist and finger sensors collect data on seven different metrics, including peripheral arterial tone (PAT), snoring, actigraphy, body position, heart rate, and oxygen levels. A thin cord connects the sensors to a small machine that monitors your breathing patterns. The test is easy to use and doesn’t require the wearer to wear any masks or nasal tubes.