Whether you undergo a sleep study in a lab or use a home sleep study, you'll get back results that you may not understand at first. You will discuss these with your doctor, but before you do that you want some help just understanding what they mean. Here's a breakdown of what your report may include, and what it means for you and your sleep patterns.

Sleep Architecture

This section of your report will describe how you spent the night sleeping, and measure how long you spent in each stage of sleep. These stages comprise of stages N1, N2, N3, and REM. Every person will spend different amounts of time in each stage, but it's worth knowing that the average person spends 20% of the night in REM. If you manage this, then you're getting a healthy amount of deep sleep.

There may also be a WASO time, which stands for Wake After Sleep Onset. This is the amount of time you're awake for after sleep has been initiated. It's often increased in people who suffer from insomnia.

There will also be an arousal index, which will measure how often you were awakened during the night. The higher this is, the more likely you are to feel tired during the day.

Respiratory Parameters

Your sleep test results will also feature a section on your respiratory parameters while you were asleep. These are measured because respiratory issues can be a major factor in your sleep issues.

This section will discuss if any types of 'apnea' have been found while you were sleeping. 'Apnea' means 'cessation of breathing', and can happen due to several different reasons. It could be because of a blockage in your upper airways because your brain isn't sending the message for your airways to open, or a mix of the two. Your report may contain these findings, which will seem worrying at first. However, there are lots of different ways to combat sleep apnea, and your doctor will be able to walk you through them.

Leg Movement Data

This data will show how much you moved during the night. It's not often that you'll notice your own movements during the night. In fact, it's more likely to disturb your partner rather than you. However, if it does wake you up, it can have a knock on effect on your health. Your doctor will suggest some ideas for you if this is the case.

Cardiac Data

This data is collected during sleep as it can help identify sleep issues such as sleep apnea. This is because your heart rate will tend to rise if you stop breathing even for a few seconds during the night.

The data collected isn't extensive, but it will give doctors a general idea of your health while you're sleeping. Don't worry if your heart rate shows as more raised than usual. If you spend a good amount of time in REM sleep, your heart rate will rise somewhat, along with your respiration.

Diagnosis And Recommendations

With all this data, you'll then be given a diagnosis of any issues that could be affecting your sleeping. This could be anything from snoring to sleep apnea. Whatever the diagnosis, you'll need to see your doctor again in order to get an idea of how to treat your issues. They'll go over the report in more detail, and help you figure out where to go next.

At Home Sleep Tests

If you need a sleep test, you have two options. You can go to a sleep lab and be tested by technicians there, or you can take a sleep test at home.

A home sleep test is a good option for many people, as it means they don't have to spend the night in unfamiliar surroundings. It's also great for people who can't stay away from home all night, such as people who are parents of young children. An in home sleep study means you'll get all the data you need, without having to leave home.

The VirtuOx at home sleep test is comfortable and easy to use so you can do that sleep test right in the comfort of your own home. We'll talk you through how to use it, and you'll be well on your way to getting the diagnosis you need.

A sleep test is the best way of getting help with the sleep issues that are interfering with your life. This guide should help you interpret the results when you get them. Claim your life back!