The medical community is always looking at ways to help raise awareness about sleep apnea, which is defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep due to an obstruction. It is estimated that 80 percent of sleep apnea sufferers are actually not diagnosed and have not sought treatment. The concern comes from the fact that when left untreated, sleep apnea causes people to be at a higher risk for life-threatening diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and diabetes. For an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea, doctors have long recommended a sleep study (or polysomnogram). A sleep study can be performed overnight in a sleep lab or an individual can take home a kit and test in the comfort of his or her own bed. But new on the horizon to test possible sufferers of sleep apnea is a patch. But can a patch really diagnose sleep apnea?
A company out of Mountainview, Calfornia, Somnarus, believes it has a product that fits the bill. According to the company, the SomnaPatch is easy to use, accurate and medical insurance reimbursement would be guaranteed.
How Can a Patch Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
The SomnaPatch has all of its electronic components packed into the adhesive material that the sleep apnea sufferer wears akin to a Band-Aid. With its ease of use and comfort, patients are more compliant. Thus the data required for an accurate diagnosis is easily gathered and compiled without having to be troubled by wires.
Additionally, the patch was designed to classify the severity of sleep apnea with the intention that the sleep apnea patient would not need another test to decide if the course of treatment should be continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Currently, the SomnaPatch is undergoing clinical trials to compare its value as a diagnostic tool to a traditional sleep study. If the results are successful, Somnarus anticipates the patch being available as a sleep apnea diagnostic tool by July 2014.
If you believe you have sleep apnea and would like to know for sure, contact one of our medical concierges today at 1-855-863-4537 to schedule a free consultation.
