If you recently had or ordered a sleep study to test for sleep apnea, the question foremost in your mind is probably what your results have to say about your sleep health or the health of your patient.

However, unless you know what to look for, your sleep study report may seem more perplexing than informational.

Here are six things you need to know in order to be able to read and understand a sleep study report.

Note: You should review your results with your physician and discuss your diagnosis, next steps and treatment options.

Sleep studies are performed to rule out or diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

A sleep study can take place in a sleep center or in a patient's home (learn about the difference between in-center and in-home testing here).

If you have just scheduled or are planning to schedule your first sleep study, you may wonder how long the entire procedure will take. In this post, we'll cover the typical length of different types of sleep studies.

The nail industry grew to $7.47 billion in 2012. In California alone, there were almost 8,000 nail salons.

Many of the patients we schedule for in-center and in-home sleep studies wear nail polish, gels or acrylics. 

Our customer service department is frequently asked whether nail polish, gels or acrylics will interfere with testing.

Jonathan Sherrill, RPSGT, is the technical director of Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc. In this post, he answer this question and offers and some background.

Sleep apnea affects more than 20 million Americans, yet most are undiagnosed and untreated.

A sleep study, whether performed at-home or in a sleep center, is the most effective way to diagnose many sleep disorders, like sleep apnea.

Learn about the typical requirements for ordering sleep studies.

Many people suffering with sleep disorders are wary of sleep testing because of the inconvenience (discomfort) of spending the night in a sleep center. In-center testing can also be cost prohibitive, especially with the rise in insurance plan co-pays and high deductibles.  

Fortunately, HST—home sleep apnea testing—is providing an increasingly convenient and comfortable alternative to sleeping in a sleep center.

What is the difference between in-center and at-home sleep testing?

Our flagship West Los Angeles sleep lab opens soon- Stay tuned! Beautiful! Quiet! Roomy! https://t.co/mIqETR19qV pic.twitter.com/sgGsMppkg6

— Kermit Newman (@SleepDrCEO) June 18, 2016

Due to increasing education and awareness of sleep apnea and it's consequences, we've seen an increase in referrals for sleep studies this past year. While some patients are qualifying for at-home sleep apnea testing (HST), many patients still require an overnight stay in a sleep center. As a result, we are opening two new sleep centers this month in West Los Angeles and Los Alamitos.

Sleep apnea is a serious disease with serious consequences, like heart disease and diabetes. We know that people with untreated severe cases of sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from devastating cardiovascular issues (read our post about the link between sleep apnea and heart disease) and while the link between sleep apnea and diabetes is still being researched, studies show that about 71% of people with diabetes may have sleep apnea (read that post here).

More and more physicians are talking to their patients about sleep disorders and identifying those at the highest risk for sleep apnea. 

“Approximately 1 in 15 American adults is afflicted with moderate to severe sleep apnea which is now known to be an independent risk factor for hypertension, cardiovascular disease , cerebrovascular disease and other conditions such as type 2 diabetes.  Unfortunately, many patients remain undiagnosed. These new facilites should alleviate some of the pressure on physicians who are identifying patients who are at risk for this life-threatening disorder.”

-Said Mostafavi, M.D., F.C.C.P., F.A.A.S.M., Chief Medical Officer of Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc.

Are you enrolled in Medicare or have patients who are?

Learn about Medicare Part B coverage for sleep studies (Part B covers certain doctor's services, out patient care, medical supplies and preventative services).

Does Medicare cover in-home sleep apnea testing?

Yes.

In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the National Coverage Determination for CPAP to include home sleep apnea testing (HST) as a means to qualify patients with obstructive sleep apnea (learn more about OSA here) for CPAP therapy (learn more about CPAP here).

Sleep apnea is most often identified not by the person suffering with the disease or even their doctor. It's usually a family member who realized there is a problem. The person sleeping does not hear his own snores, but his bed partner or family member in the next room does. 

Does your dad snore loudly or always fall asleep in inappropriate places?

Alyssa, our Internal Operations Manager, knew for years that her father had a serious sleep disorder. As a child, Alyssa could hear her father snoring from across the house. Finally, after falling asleep at work during a phone call, her father was tested and diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (actually, his co-workers caught him asleep at his desk while on the phone, photographed him and posted the picture as his employee of the month photo).

For the past 10 years he has used a bi-level PAP every night, has lost over 100 pounds and his life has changed for the better (see this great picture of Alyssa and her dad at her wedding in August of last year?).

Men are more likely than women to have sleep apnea. In this post we'll cover the top risk factors for sleep apnea in men and how to recognize so that you can convince your dad (bed partner, uncle, brother, grandfather) to talk to his doctor and find out about having a sleep study.

What do these terms mean in a sleep study report?

Which one is used by insurances to determine approval for CPAP therapy?

Learn about the different type of respiratory events, how they are scored and what they mean for treatment options and insurance coverage of CPAP therapy.

Has your doctor ordered a test, medication or specialist visit but can’t tell you what it’s going to cost?

Have you ever been surprised by a huge medical bill when you thought you were covered?

Have you ever postponed a procedure because you weren’t sure what it would cost you?

Have you ever been confused about your insurance coverage for a service that you really needed? 

Figuring out the price and your financial responsibility for a sleep study can be a challenge. We're here to help answer your questions.