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How Does the NightOwl At-Home Sleep Test Work?

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May 1, 2024

7:07 PM

Do you struggle with poor sleep quality affecting your daily life? You’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from sleep disorders, often without even realizing it. Fortunately, innovative solutions like the NightOwl Home Sleep Test make it easier than ever to diagnose sleep issues from the comfort of your home.

What is the NightOwl Home Sleep Test?

The NightOwl is a cutting-edge, fully disposable medical device worn on your finger while you sleep. Its unique sensor technology collects key data points throughout the night, including:

Body movement
Heart rate
Blood oxygen levels

This information paints a comprehensive picture of your sleep patterns and can help identify potential disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The NightOwl is one of only two medical-grade, completely disposable sleep tests available worldwide.

How does it work?

Using the NightOwl is a simple three-step process:

You receive the small device in the mail and download the companion app on your smartphone.
Following the app’s easy instructions, you attach the sensor to your finger using the included wraps and wear it for three consecutive nights as you sleep.
After completing the test, you return the device and receive a detailed sleep report, typically within a few days.

A licensed sleep physician will analyze your NightOwl data to generate the report, which includes metrics like:

Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) – the number of apnea or hypopnea events per hour
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM sleep stages
Blood oxygen saturation levels
Total sleep time

The app securely transmits your sleep data to the cloud for analysis. You can then access the physician-reviewed results through your online SiSU Health dashboard.

Is the NightOwl accurate?

Clinical studies have validated the NightOwl’s performance, confirming it closely matches the gold standard for measuring OSA: polysomnography (PSG) testing conducted in a lab. You can feel confident that the NightOwl delivers trustworthy and valuable insights about your sleep health.

Why does the test record three nights?

Collecting data across three nights provides a more complete and accurate assessment than a single-night snapshot. It accounts for natural night-to-night variability in your sleep patterns. Occasionally, the app may prompt you to repeat a night if it can’t capture sufficient data. Sometimes, two nights are adequate for the sleep physician’s evaluation.

Do I need a home sleep test?

Sleep apnea is startlingly common. It affects roughly 25% of men and 9% of women, yet an estimated 85% of sufferers remain undiagnosed and untreated. You’re at higher risk if you have any of these factors:

Large build (BMI over 25)
Large neck circumference (over 16″ for women, 17″ for men)
Age over 50 for women or 40 for men
Family history of sleep apnea
Smoking
High blood pressure

Untreated sleep apnea can cause or worsen many health concerns beyond daytime fatigue. It raises your chances of motor vehicle accidents by 2-5 times and premature death from heart disease by 33% over 15 years.

Silent Night Therapy understands the challenges of poor sleep due to sleep disorders. We’re here to guide you toward the testing and treatment options that can transform your nights and days. Call (631) 983-2463 or contact us online today to speak with a compassionate sleep health expert about your situation and learn more about affordable home sleep testing.