In the last few years, we have shined a brighter light on sleep apnea than ever before and it shouldn't surprise anyone. More and more accidents have stemmed from sleep apnea related incidents, including a noteworthy train accident that managed to kill one person. That being said, there are many companies that have been forcing their employees to undergo oximetry testing to ensure that they are on duty, especially if they are working in a high-risk position. For example, if you were a truck driver or a heavy machine operator, it would be vital for you to stay awake on the job. With sleep apnea that can be a virtually impossible task, and unfortunately, there are very few ways to treat it. There is absolutely no cure for the condition right now, but early detection is critical and there are ways to mitigate the symptoms.

It Starts with An Overnight Oximetry Test

Everything begins with what is called an overnight oximetry test and it can be done from the comfort of your own home if you wish. There was a time when such tests needed to be administered in a laboratory which inconvenienced those who required the test and to be honest it caused many potentially deadly cases to go completely undetected. So, what does the test do exactly, and how can it help you? We're going to take a quick look at some of the benefits that you can expect.

Easy Setup – Setting up a home oximetry test is very easy; it simply involves placing a plastic clip over the finger and connecting it to a device that will track the sleep patterns of the individual in question.

Do it at Home – As we've said many times before, this is a procedure that can be done at home, and in the past few years the DIY pulse oximetry test technology has gotten a bit more consumer friendly. They are much easier to operate and can be handled by virtually anyone.

Accurate Reporting – An overnight oximetry test will be able to collect the necessary information and it will then be able to arrange it into a readable form. In most cases, it will present the information in graph form which is then sent to the provider.

Diagnosis – From the information that is sent to the care provider a proper diagnosis can be drawn and it won't be too long before the patient is either cleared or they are referred to a medical supply company to receive a CPAP machine. 

Getting a CPAP Machine

Once the nocturnal oximetry test is completed the individual being tested may be referred to a medical supply company to be issued a CPAP machine. A Continuous Positive Airway Pump is designed to force the airway open and keep it from collapsing during the night. This not only prevents snoring, it keeps the individual from awakening. Modern CPAP machines are much more robust than the ones that we have seen in the past for a few reasons, the primary reason being that they are able to report back just like the home oximetry testing equipment.

They can easily let the doctor in charge of your case know how you are progressing and whether or not any changes need to be made on your machine. Often times, the pressure needs to be ramped either up or down to ensure the patient is getting the right amount of air and that the machine is actually effective. Otherwise, it could all be for nothing.

Testing at Home is Critical

Under the supervision of a good care provider, home oximetry testing can be enough to justify the cost of purchase through the insurance company. Once that determination is made the person can get on the road to recovery. A CPAP machine might feel like a small thing but it can be a world of improvement for those who use it.

Care providers everywhere are switching to the home sleep study method because it is not only more convenient for the patient, it is much cheaper for the facility as they will not be forced to host the patient. Home testing is the way of the future and it can save lives.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.