Think you have sleep apnea? This at-home test can help you know
Think you have sleep apnea? Here's how to get tested at home
If snoring has become a running family joke, particularly after sharing a room during holiday travel, don't automatically dismiss what someone else notices at night.
Persistent snoring coupled with exhaustion or witnessed pauses in breathing can be a reason to talk with a healthcare professional about obstructive sleep apnea .
Sleep apnea is also remarkably easy to miss. A 2024 medical review estimates that 90% of people with obstructive sleep apnea remain undiagnosed.
Get your at-home sleep apnea test
For some adults, getting checked no longer requires spending a night in a sleep lab. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says a home sleep apnea test is one diagnostic option for uncomplicated adults who have an increased risk of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
That's the appeal of Lofta Home Sleep Apnea Test . The service combines a telemedicine screening, an at-home test and physician-reviewed results into one process. Lofta's current site lists the test at $189, reduced to $132.30 at the time of publication.
What is the Lofta at-home sleep apnea test?
Lofta sends you a WatchPAT One kit designed to collect sleep data while you spend the night in your own bed.
According to Lofta, the kit includes a wrist-worn WatchPAT One device, chest sensor and finger probe. The company says the device measures factors including sleep time and sleep architecture and that its technology has been validated against polysomnography, the traditional laboratory sleep study.
This simple test turns multiple steps of sleep-apnea testing into a primarily at-home process, including delivery of the test and physician interpretation of the results.Best for: Adults with possible OSA who pass Lofta's clinical screening and prefer an at-home testing option.
Importantly, this isn't designed to be a DIY diagnosis based on an app score. A physician is involved in the process.
How to get tested for sleep apnea at home with Lofta
1. Order the test and complete a telemedicine screening
After ordering, Lofta says you'll have a brief video visit to determine whether the home test is appropriate for you.
2. Take the test at home
Once the WatchPAT One arrives, you wear its sensors overnight and sleep in your own bed.
That convenience is one of the biggest differences between home testing and traditional polysomnography, which is performed overnight in a sleep center.
3. A sleep physician interprets the results
Lofta says a board-certified sleep physician analyzes the data after your test.
4. Review your results and next steps
Lofta provides a results walkthrough and can help users consider treatment options if they're diagnosed with sleep apnea. Its site lists CPAP therapy and oral tech among potential treatment paths.
A prescription isn't guaranteed simply because you purchased a test. Treatment should depend on the physician's findings.
Learn more about how Lofta works
Who should consider getting tested for sleep apnea?
One scenario identified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is excessive daytime sleepiness combined with at least two of these three factors:
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Habitual loud snoring
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Witnessed apnea, gasping or choking during sleep
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Diagnosed hypertension
So, if your partner keeps nudging you awake because your snoring is unbearable, that's worth paying attention to. If they're seeing you stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, it's an even stronger reason to discuss testing with a healthcare professional .
Is an at-home sleep apnea test right for everyone?
No, and this distinction is important.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine considers polysomnography the standard diagnostic test for adults in whom obstructive sleep apnea is suspected. Its guidelines allow either polysomnography or home testing for appropriate, uncomplicated adults at increased risk for moderate to severe OSA.
Home testing also isn't the end of the road when results don't make sense. Technical guidance says that when a home study is negative, inconclusive or technically inadequate, polysomnography should be performed to rule out OSA.
In other words, don't assume one negative home test necessarily explains persistent symptoms.
How much does the Lofta sleep test cost?
Lofta lists its regular price as $189 and on sale for $132.30 (30% off) at the time of publication. The Lofta package includes the at-home testing equipment, brief telemedicine visit, physician review and support reviewing results.
Get your at-home sleep apnea test
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Think you have sleep apnea? This at-home test can help you know
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