A partner or roommate could point out any sleep problems you’re experiencing and get you examined, but if you live alone, that’s not always an option.
“For people who live alone, it’s difficult to monitor sleep disorders.” Dr. Thomas HammondBoard Certified Neurologist Marcus Neuroscience Institute She lives in Boca Raton, Fla. “Sometimes the house is messy, but it wasn’t before I went to bed, so it’s easier to notice something going on.”
But most of the time, you might notice that something is not right with your sleep — for example, you might feel extremely tired or irritable during the day despite getting the recommended amount of sleep — but there’s no tangible evidence when you wake up the next morning.
Enter the sleep tracker“There are many ways to track sleep and understand possible symptoms,” Johnston says, “including wearables, bedside devices and bed sensors.”
Wearable devices can collect information about movement, heart rate and breathing patterns. “Many of these devices are multipurpose, so users can also use them to track their eating habits and breathing patterns throughout the day,” Johnston said.
For example, if you notice a significant decrease in your usual sleep time, this may be due to symptoms related to a health condition. You can then compare and contrast this information with your sleep patterns to better understand what symptoms are manifesting during sleep and why.
The bedside device sits next to your bed and can collect data about your breathing habits and body movements. “This information can help determine if you’re feeling short of breath or moving too much while you sleep,” Johnston says. (The device also stores information about your bedroom environment, including temperature, ambient noise, and light.)
There are also bed sensors that can be placed under your sheets or mattress. “These sensors collect information about your movement and heart rate,” Johnston says. “Irregular heart rate can be linked to health conditions like hyperthyroidism or excessive stress.” (Some sensors also track temperature and humidity.)
Once you have collected 2-3 weeks’ worth of sleep data, you can bring it with you to your next appointment. Consumer devices are untested and unregulated In the case of clinical diagnoses, the data cannot be used to officially diagnose, but the data can at least be used to determine whether clinical testing would be beneficial.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
