At one time you could check your blood glucose at home and there were a selection of pregnancy testing kits available on the market but little else was possible to self test.  Nowadays, there is so much more that can be tested at home, saving time and the expense of attending a clinic.

There are tests that will enable you to monitor an existing condition and others that test for new diseases and disorders.  Thyroid conditions and Diabetes can be checked regularly and sexually transmitted diseases can also be tested. 

 

At most pharmacies it is possible to purchase tests for cholesterol levels; drug and alcohol levels; colon cancer; Hepatitis C, HIV and blood glucose.  A negative test means there is no need to see your doctor, saving a considerable amount of money and time.  For people who do not have health insurance, home testing can provide peace of mind with negative results and save a wasted appointment.  For positive testing, such information validates a need to see a doctor.  Even for people who are insured, test kits can cost less than clinic attendance.

 

One of the more valuable home tests is for sleep apnea: a sleep disorder suffered by as many as 18 million Americans but diagnosed in very few as most people are unaware they have a problem. 

 

The condition’s symptoms are little more than heavy snoring and gasping during sleep, through an insufficient air flow caused by blockage in the throat or neck through fatty tissue. The sufferer may stop breathing for between 10 and 120 seconds, several hundred times throughout a night’s sleep and oxygen levels drop dramatically each time.

 

Typical sleep apnea victims are exhausted throughout the day due to their struggle to achieve a normal night’s rest.  A home apnea test is now available, allowing OSD (Obstructive Sleep Disorder) sufferers to self test in the comfort and privacy of their own home.  Once diagnosed, however, it would be necessary to consult a qualified sleep doctor for advice on treatment.  

 

Sleep specialist Dr Avi, director of Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute, says: “We conduct sleep tests for sleep apnea both in our sleep labs, where we do overnight testing in a comfortable, hotel-like setting but we also offer patients the option to undergo the sleep test in the comfort of their own bed at home. This can save the patient a great deal of money and the results are found to be just as accurate as they are when we do sleep lab testing. Today, we may be the only medical facility allowing patients across the US to order a sleep test on the Internet. We are succeeding in eliminating the inconvenience and high cost of getting tested for sleep apnea.”

The Aviisha home sleep test includes an interview with a sleep specialist at no extra cost.