If you find you're struggling to sleep, or that you're feeling tired and groggy when you wake up, then there could be a medical reason for this. Your sleep is important, so you need to investigate your sleep issues as soon as possible. Here's what a sleep study is, and how it can help you get to the bottom of your issues.

The Benefits Of A Good Night's Sleep

Everyone knows how it feels to sleep badly at night, but if it happens frequently, it can have a real impact on your health. If you get a good amount of restful sleep at night, you'll find it easier to get up in the mornings, be able to concentrate, and will generally feel better in yourself.
If you don't sleep well, on the other hand, it can cause other issues for you. For example, a poor night's sleep can lead to irritability, poor concentration, and generally low mood. If this happens to you frequently, then you'll need to get yourself tested to find out why this is happening.

What Can Be Causing Your Poor Sleep?

There's many reasons why you may be sleeping poorly, and it wouldn't be possible to list all of them here. However, there is one reason why you may be feeling less rested in the mornings.

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects many people without them even knowing it. It's a condition that affects your breathing as you sleep, meaning that you can stop breathing multiple times during the night. This can happen either because the brain doesn't send the right signal to the rest of your body to breathe, or it could be because of obstructions that occur when you lay down to sleep.

You could have this condition if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Loud snoring or snorting at night
• Tiredness during the day
• Memory loss
• Morning headaches

It's often easier to spot the symptoms if you sleep with a partner, as they'll hear your snoring or see when you struggle to breathe at night.

These symptoms can sound worrying, but in fact sleep apnea is simple to treat if diagnosed.

What To Do If You Suspect Sleep Apnea

If you feel as though you may have sleep apnea, then the best thing to do is to go to a doctor and tell them about your symptoms. They'll listen to what you describe to them, and then make a decision based on them. If they suspect sleep apnea too, they'll suggest a sleep study to help diagnose the issue.

What Is A Sleep Apnea Test?

If your doctor suggests a sleep test, you'll be monitored as you sleep in order to measure several metrics that could suggest sleep apnea. These include:

• Blood oxygen levelsRespiration rate
• Respiration rateBrain wave activity
• Brainwave activityLeg movement
• Leg movementApnea-
• Apnea-Hyponea index

These will then be able to tell your doctor whether you show signs of sleep apnea.
There are two ways of being tested for sleep apnea. You can either be tested in a sleep lab or at home.

Many people are now opting for a home sleep apnea test, for many different reasons. They can't stay away from their home for a whole night, they can't sleep in an unfamiliar place, or they're looking to save money on the test.

There's a lot of benefits to using a sleep apnea at home test, too. As they're designed for use at home, they're much simpler to use and only use three different attachments. Because of this, you'll find it much more comfortable to sleep. A great benefit of this is that you'll sleep normally as you do at home so your doctor can get true readings from the equipment.

Once you have the data, just take it to your doctor. They'll be able to examine it and tell you what your next steps need to be.

If you're interested in a sleep apnea home test, try using a VirtuOx home sleep test. Our tests are just as reliable as the in lab tests, and you can use them in the comfort of your own bed. Get in touch, and we can tell you more.