Sleep medicine
Home sleep study.
A home sleep study is the sleep exam done in your own home, used mainly to investigate obstructive sleep apnea. Over one night, a portable device records your breathing and your sleep in the environment where you actually sleep.
Because it is a complementary exam, its result is always interpreted together with the clinical assessment.
01
How the exam works
A fingertip oximeter measures blood oxygen and heart rate, a nasal cannula records airflow, a chest band measures breathing effort, and a sensor records body position. You sleep in your own bed and return the device the next day for analysis.
Because the recording happens in your usual environment, it tends to reflect your real night better, with more comfort and no time spent adapting to a lab.
02
Type 2 and type 3
Type 3 is focused on breathing and is the one most used to investigate sleep apnea. Type 2 is the full version, which includes the electroencephalogram and can stage sleep.
The choice between them starts from the clinical suspicion and the question the exam needs to answer.
03
When it is indicated and how to prepare
A sleep study is usually indicated in the presence of loud, frequent snoring, breathing pauses noticed by a bed partner, unrefreshing sleep, daytime sleepiness, or a morning headache.
Preparation is simple: keep your usual sleep routine, avoid naps, caffeine, and alcohol on the day of the exam, and come with clean skin, without creams, so the sensors adhere well.
A medical referral is required, and the exam can be done privately or through a health insurance plan.
Book exam on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
Home sleep study: common questions
Do I have to sleep in a lab?
No. The home sleep study is done in your own home: you receive the device, sleep in your own bed, and return it the next day.
Does the exam hurt?
No. The sensors are external — a fingertip oximeter, a nasal cannula, a chest band, and a body-position sensor. There are no needles and no electrical stimuli.
What is the difference between type 2 and type 3?
Type 3 evaluates breathing and is the one most used for apnea; type 2 is complete and includes the electroencephalogram, allowing sleep to be staged.
Do I need a medical referral?
Yes. The sleep study is a complementary exam, requested from a clinical suspicion and interpreted together with the medical assessment.
Is the exam covered by insurance?
It can be done privately or through a health insurance plan, always with a medical referral. Confirm your plan's coverage for the specific exam.
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