Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects over 25 million people in America alone and almost a billion people worldwide. It occurs in all sexes and all age groups, and it commonly goes undiagnosed. In fact, more than 80% of patients with sleep apnea don’t even know they have it. Let’s get into the specifics. This disorder shows up, primarily, in two forms: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA is by far the more common of the two. It occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat fail to keep your breathing airway open, resulting in either a partial or complete blockage in your airway. Essentially, you stop breathing periodically throughout the night! This, in turn, signals your brain to partially wake up in order to tell your body that you need to breathe, because, you know, you need to breathe to stay alive. This can cause you to wake up as many as 500 times each and every night, depending on the severity of your OSA.

A note on the varying severity of OSA:

• Mild OSA: 5-14 interruptions in breathing per hour.
• Moderate OSA: 15- 30 interruptions per hour.
• Severe OSA: 30 or more interruptions per hour.

These apnea obstructions are often followed by gasping, choking, and snorting sounds, which are the result of trying to take a deep enough breath to fight past the obstruction so that you can breathe. Once a breath is taken, the brain returns to sleep. However, these events might be very subtle and are virtually silent to certain people.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is a bit different. It is more of a communication problem with the brain than a mechanical problem with the breathing airways. With CSA, your brain actually fails to signal the muscles that are supposed to be regulating your breathing. CSA is much less common, comprising around 15% of all sleep apnea cases.

• • Do you regularly wake up tired or with a headache?
  • Do you doze off during the day?
  • Do you snore?
  • Do you get really warm at night?
  • Do you wake up to use the bathroom a lot?

  If you have one of more of these symptoms you might have sleep apnea, so you should get it confirmed by a sleep specialist as soon as possible. Only they can diagnose you properly.

   Our blog explains even further.

In short, Ognomy makes it simple to get tested, diagnosed, and treated for sleep apnea without ever leaving your home.

1. First, register as a new patient online, or download the Ognomy app on the App Store or Google Play.
2. We make it easy! Follow the instructions online or in the app to select your location and insurance, pick a time for a video appointment, and then enter required demographic information (just like you would give in a normal doctor’s office).
3. Before your consultation with the doctor, Ognomy will determine any costs related to the process. If you have insurance information, you will be asked to upload a photo of your insurance card and the Ognomy patient support team will verify what, if any, your co-pay will be. If you don’t have insurance, you can still be seen quickly with our affordable self-pay options. Don’t worry, you can always cancel your appointment with the doctor up to 24 hours prior to your consultation without being charged.
4. During the video call, your doctor will determine If you are a likely candidate for sleep apnea. If so, they will then send a sleep test to your home. You should do the sleep test the same night you receive the sleep test equipment.
5. We provide simple instructions on how to set up your home sleep test. Some of our tests are as easy as putting on a ring or watch and loading the app on your smartphone. Spend the night in your bed with the equipment connected to you. When you wake up in the morning, follow the instructions to stop the test.
6. The day after your sleep test, if required, you will put the equipment into the pre-paid return envelope Ognomy provides, and send it back to us. If it is a one-time use device, you can recycle it or dispose of it.
7. Your doctor will review the results of the study. You can schedule your follow up appointment anytime (this is required to discuss your results, diagnosis, and next steps in your treatment plan). If the right treatment for you is a CPAP device, you can receive that without having to leave your home as well. Other options can include; oral appliances, lifestyle changes, and surgical treatments.

The cost of a home sleep test is less expensive than a traditional sleep study. If paying by insurance, your co-pay will likely be the same, usually less than $25.

You may be responsible for your typical specialist visit via copay, but there are no additional fees. Furthermore, you will never be charged a fee without your consent.

If you have a high-deductible plan or no health insurance at present, Ognomy offers a very reasonable self-pay option that includes an initial sleep specialist consultation, a home sleep test, and follow-up consultation, all for just $299.

Contact us at sheepa@ognomy.com if you would like more information.