Not infrequently, people ask me some variation of the following:

I'm told that I snore every night, and a few times my spouse has heard me stop breathing in my sleep. I've done some research online and I'm pretty sure that I have sleep apnea. Do I really need to do a sleep apnea test or is this just an added expense? Why not just buy an auto-CPAP machine?

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

One of the most common Google Internet searches regarding sleep apnea is, "What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?" The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in adults are numerous and diverse. They can be roughly divided into "cardinal" (classical symptoms of the disorder), sleep quality-related, and daytime symptoms. Sleep apnea can present differently in certain populations, and symptoms can be alternatively characterized by the distinct manifestations in men, women, children, and elderly patients. In the first article in this series, the cardinal symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will be reviewed. 

What is Airing micro-CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

How would you like to treat your OSA without a mask, hose or machine? Millions of sleep apnea patients just raised their hands collectively! Sounds pretty good, right? Now let's make that treatment accessible for a price that won't break the bank. The promise of this unbeatable combination is what has made Airing micro-CPAP one of the most-hyped, novel sleep apnea treatments ever. Airing micro-CPAP uses electrostatic force delivered through micro-blower plates to keep the airway open while sleeping.

In this article, we will discuss four common questions regarding home sleep testing, an exciting, new diagnostic testing option for sleep disorders.  

1) What is a home sleep study?

A home sleep apnea test (HST) is a diagnostic procedure to determine whether you have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is by far the most common type of sleep disordered breathing. Tens of millions of people in the United States have OSA, and medical authorities estimate that 80% of OSA sufferers are as yet undiagnosed. OSA correlates very closely with obesity rates, which hover around one-third of the U.S. population. Current medical guidelines say that HSTs are appropriate for the vast majority of patients who need sleep diagnostic testing.