01 Aug Sleep apnoea diagnosis without a sleep laboratory: is it possible?
Good sleep is essential for health and well-being. However, many people sleep poorly without realising why. It is often unnoticed breathing interruptions that disrupt a restful night's sleep. Anyone who snores regularly, is exhausted in the morning and suffers from concentration problems during the day should consider the possibility of sleep apnoea. The traditional route to a diagnosis is to go to a sleep laboratory. However, appointments there are often rare and not everyone is comfortable with the idea of spending a night under observation. The good news is that a sound diagnosis is now also possible on the move. Find out how sleep apnoea diagnosis works without a sleep laboratory - and how reliable this method is - below.
When the body sounds the alarm at night: Warning signs of sleep apnoea
Restful sleep gives you strength for the day. But what if you wake up in the morning feeling exhausted, can hardly concentrate during the day and your partner keeps reporting loud snoring or breathing interruptions? You should not take such warning signs lightly. These symptoms may be caused by the so-called Sleep apnoea This is a serious breathing disorder that often remains undetected for a long time and can have a lasting negative impact on your health. Look out for the following signs:
- Irregular, loud snoring, which is characterised by prolonged Breathing pauses is interrupted
Your environment is often more likely to notice this than you yourself - Repeated Breathing interruptionswhich can be accompanied by abrupt awakenings
for example as sudden shortness of breath or sighs in sleep - Daytime tiredness and leaden exhaustion
Those affected do not feel at all refreshed in the morning despite seemingly sufficient sleep time - Morning headache
can be the result of a lack of oxygen at night - Dry mouth or sore throat after waking up
Indication of increased mouth breathing due to blocked airways during sleep - Difficulty concentrating or staying focussed during the day
Signs that the night's sleep was not restful - Irritability or mood swings in everyday life
show that the body is under stress due to disturbed sleep and does not regenerate sufficiently - Decreased libido
even impotence is possible in men
Do you recognise yourself? You may have sleep apnoea. A thorough investigation is urgently recommended.
The classic examination for diagnosing sleep apnoea: the sleep laboratory
In order to reliably clarify the suspicion of sleep apnoea, an examination in a specialised centre for sleep medicine is often used.
Specialists use polysomnography to record numerous bodily functions: e.g. breathing, oxygen saturation, heart rate, brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity and sleep phases. This makes it possible to determine exactly whether and how often breathing interruptions occur, how long they last and how severely they affect sleep.
The sleep laboratory offers a particularly comprehensive analysis and is particularly useful if you already have severe symptoms or pre-existing conditions. On this basis, your doctor can then plan appropriate treatment.
Why the sleep lab is not an option for many
Despite clear symptoms, many sufferers are reluctant to go to the sleep laboratory.
There are many reasons for this: some find the idea of sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings with numerous measuring sensors unpleasant or stressful. Others shy away from the organisational effort, for example due to work commitments, long waiting times or long journeys. Shame or the worry of "not being able to sleep while being observed" also prevent some people from having a diagnostic test carried out in the laboratory.
As a result, possible breathing disorders during sleep often go untreated. However, this can have long-term health consequences such as high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia or an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.
Convenient alternative: sleep apnoea diagnosis without a sleep laboratory with the WatchPAT
The WatchPAT system offers a stress-free alternative for anyone who prefers a convenient solution that is suitable for everyday use. This mobile Sleep apnoea screeningwhich we present to you in our ENT clinic in Frankkurt enables reliable diagnostics that you can carry out from the comfort of your own home.
WatchPAT: Diagnostic device for sleep apnoea detection at home
The WatchPAT is a compact measuring system consisting of three parts: a wristband with an integrated sensor, a small probe on the finger and a flat sensor patch on the chest. Unlike in a sleep laboratory, it does not require nasal cannulas, straps or complex wiring. This means that sleep remains as natural as possible. This also lowers the inhibition threshold for many patients to have themselves examined.
Procedure of the examination
The measurement takes place during a normal night in your familiar surroundings. The device records various parameters such as oxygen saturation, pulse, snoring, breathing pauses and even the sleep phases. This is done using peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). This method detects the smallest changes in vascular tension and allows very precise analysis of nocturnal breathing.
The next morning, you remove the screening device and bring it back to our ENT practice clinic. Here we carefully analyse the recorded data.
Scientific studies prove the accuracy of the WatchPAT
The informative value of the procedure has been compared with classic polysomnography in the sleep laboratory in several studies - and shows a very high level of agreement:
High diagnostic accuracy with the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI)
In a clinical study at the Chinese PLA General Hospital (Beijing), the WatchPAT delivered very reliable measurement results. The results were almost equivalent to those of conventional polysomnography. The WatchPAT system proved to be an excellent diagnostic aid, particularly with regard to the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and the assessment of the severity of sleep apnoea.
The AHI indicates how many breathing pauses (apnoeas) and shallow breaths (hypopnoeas) occur per hour of sleep. It is a key measurement for assessing sleep-related breathing disorders.
Reliable alternative to classic polysomnography with reliable differentiation between central and obstructive sleep apnoea
A comprehensive multi-centre study led by Dr Giora Pillar was conducted at eleven sleep centres in the USA, Israel and Germany. The WatchPAT system was used in combination with a body position tracker. A total of 84 adults with suspected sleep-related breathing disorders took part in the study.
The results confirm the high diagnostic performance of the WatchPAT. The measured values corresponded almost completely with those of classic polysomnography. Particularly noteworthy is the reliable differentiation between central and obstructive respiratory disorders. This aspect is crucial for choosing the appropriate therapy.
This shows that the WatchPAT is suitable as a sound, convenient and scientifically validated alternative to conventional diagnostics in the sleep laboratory - even under real conditions in everyday clinical practice.
Who the diagnostic device is suitable for
The WatchPAT is primarily aimed at people with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea who are looking for an uncomplicated diagnostic option that is suitable for everyday use.
The procedure is particularly suitable for these people:
- Patients who find an examination in the sleep laboratory stressful
- People with little time or a long journey to the Centre for Sleep Medicine
- Affected people who want to organise their night's sleep as naturally as possible
Sleep lab vs. WatchPAT
Respiratory disorders recognised: What does this mean for you?
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, it is important to initiate the appropriate treatment steps at an early stage. In many cases, so-called CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is an option. A special device ensures that a constant positive pressure is maintained in the airways during sleep. This keeps them open and reliably prevents breathing interruptions at night.
Alternatively, a customised snoring splint may also be sufficient, especially for milder forms of sleep apnoea. In addition, lifestyle factors such as weight reduction in the case of existing obesity can significantly alleviate the symptoms.
If anatomical causes favour sleep apnoea, surgical treatment at our ENT clinic in Frankfurt may be advisable. Possible interventions include Improvement of nasal breathingThe tightening of a sagging soft palate (so-called webbing) or the shortening of an elongated uvula.
Together with you, we select the therapy that best suits your individual situation.
Sleep apnoea diagnosis without a sleep laboratory in Frankfurt
Do you suffer from signs of sleep apnoea but don't want to go to a sleep medicine centre? At the HNO-Praxisklinik Goethe10 in Frankfurt, we offer you a modern and convenient alternative: with the WatchPAT system, we enable reliable diagnostics - without the need to visit a sleep laboratory, but in your familiar surroundings.
Thanks to modern technology, many years of experience and a comprehensive range of treatments, we provide you with expert support from the initial assessment to the most suitable individualised therapy.
The HNO-Praxisklinik Goethe10 - your address for sleep apnoea diagnosis without a sleep laboratory in Frankfurt. Simply contact us to make an appointment!
Do you have any questions on this topic or would you like to arrange a consultation?
ENT Frankfurt: Dr Thomas Fischer & Dr Albrecht Linke
Your specialists for ear, nose and throat medicine, who will provide you with professional and individualised advice, examinations and treatment in all matters relating to ENT medicine, functional plastic surgery and the aesthetic treatment of changes to the facial skin.
Our news articles are prepared for you to the best of our knowledge and belief and are intended for general education. They are in no way a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment and are not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always contact your ENT specialist in Frankfurt directly if you have any health complaints!
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