Should I Have a Home Sleep Study or Go to the Lab?

Technology has come a long way and studying sleep is no exception. We are now able to perform sleep studies in the home as well as the sleep lab. This is a great thing because it allows more people to be tested for sleep disorders then every before. The drawback is that there are limitations to what can be done in the home versus the lab.

In home sleep studies are generally modified unsupervised sleep studies. This means that the equipment is delivered to the patient and then they are responsible for applying it and taking it off. In some areas a technician will come out in the evening to apply the equipment and you will wear it the rest of the night, then you may have to take it off or the technician will come back in the morning and remove it. Generally these types of studies are limited in nature and only monitors certain parameters, oxygen level, heart rate, breathing, and whether you are awake or sleep and position. Because the study is limited it is designed strictly to diagnoses sleep apnea. Other conditions a person may have will not be diagnosed, such a periodic limb movement disorder and teeth grinding. This type of testing is also not good for patient with significant health issues such as congestive heart failure or COPD.

In lab testing has several differences. The first one is there is a technician there with you if any problems should arise. If one of the wires become dislodged it can be fixed right away. You do not need to have another study performed. The technician is also there to answer questions should you have any during the nights. The most important role of the technician, however, is that they can intervene if there is a significant health issue during the night. They can also do a special type of study called a split night, or combination study, which allows you to be diagnosed and treated for your sleep apnea on the same night. This way if you have severe sleep apnea you can be treated right away instead of waiting. You also are able to be evaluated for other conditions you may not know you had.

Treating sleep apnea after the home sleep study can occur in two different ways as well. You can be brought into the sleep lab for a titration study. During this test the technician finds a mask that works for you, educates you about CPAP and how it works and then finds the right pressure to eliminate most of the apneas and snoring. This test also allows the doctor to look for the other disorders such as periodic limb movements.

The other option for treatment is to have a home care company deliver an auto-titrating CPAP. This machine is set to allow a range in pressure that adjusts as you have events during the night. The technician will fit you for a mask and then leave the machine for you to use. The drawback is that there is no one there during that first night to assist you if there is an issue. The other issue is that unless you call your doctor or the company that delivered the machine they may not be able to correct any problems that happen until they download the information in the CPAP memory.

Overall home sleep studies do have a place in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. They are very good for diagnosing the straight forward sleep apnea patient. If, however, there is any issues that need to be addressed right away or if a person needs some assistance this may not be the best choice. A full sleep study allows for the possibility for quicker treatment and intervention. There is also the ability to diagnose other conditions that might go unnoticed in the home setting. That and the personal care involved in testing help to create a successful long term care situation.

Fast Ways to Get an Accredited Online University Degree

Online university degrees offer numerous benefits from convenience to the amount of time it takes one to complete a college program. Although many online schools take the same amount of time as a traditional program, there are ways to accelerate the time it takes to get a diploma. Below are some helpful tips on fast ways to get an accredited online university degree.

Some online schools will offer accelerated programs. Inquire about any special services offered that may decrease the amount of time you will have to attend online classes. Some schools will offer Business or Education; two of the most popular majors, that only take 3 years for a Bachelors degree instead of the general four year period.

In addition, ask your counselor if you can double up on classes. Many online schools have a set curriculum and order of classes. However, at times, students can take more classes than recommended during each semester, quarter, or month. As long as all pre-requisites have been satisfied this should not be a problem. This can reduce time from 4 years to 3 years or less. However, some schools will set limits on the amount of classes that can be taken during a quarter or semester.

Furthermore, many online schools offer tests that students can take to eliminate general classes such as: English, Math, History, Foreign Language, and Science. Instead of spending times taking these courses, students can take a 100 question multiple choice test. One can normally take about 30 credits worth of tests, eliminating the need to take 10-15 general, non-major classes and decreasing one's in school length by about a year. These tests can be taken while the student is in other classes. However, it is important to keep in mind that these exams do require study time and preparation.

Also, ask the school if they offer any other incentives or programs to accelerate your degree. Some schools will offer various types of coursework, work studies or other unique methods for speeding up a program.

By entering a special shorter program in combination with doubling up on courses and taking exams to replace some classes, one can reduce a 4 year program to 2 to 3 years. Furthermore, these tips can decrease a Masters Degree program from 1-2 years to 6-12 months, significantly reducing the length of one's college career. When looking to obtain an accredited online university degree quickly, be sure to ask your counselor or advisor of all your options as well as the above tips.

NOTE: by researching and comparing the best online degree programs in the educational field, you will determine the one that will help you to ignite the spark of a brand new career but meeting perfectly your financial needs.

Career Planning

Social culture is certainly an interesting phenomenon. Planning is ingrained into some aspects of our lives and completely shunned in others. Holidays, for example, are often meticulously planned because we want to ensure that we make the most of our time away. Weddings are another example of painstakingly thorough planning. Diets, babies, sporting endeavors and education are more examples of goals and events that are have culturally accepted planning phases.

What is it about these activities and events that lead us to invest so much time into their planning? When we consider that the risk or impact of failing to meet our objective is unacceptable we mitigate the risk by planning ahead. Nobody wants to waste valuable holiday time, nor do they want their weddings to be incomplete or disorganized. We generally recognize that some events will not naturally come to order and their success is dependent on planning. Career Planning, on the other hand, is often overlooked.

A common misconception about career planning is that the concept is about working hard in order to press for a promotion. But career planning is about working smart. It is about making the right decisions and focusing energy in order to maximize time and effort. In the workplace and during our education, we make decisions on a daily basis and these decisions shape our image as a professional.

Let's deviate from careers in order to press this point. Which racehorse would you bet on?

Racehorse #1. Recently started racing - formally privately owned and lived in a paddock.

Racehorse #2. Has two years of racing experience and trains twice a week.

Racehorse #3. Has five years of racing experience and trains five times a week.

Racehorse #4. Has five years of racing experience, he trains five times a week and was bred from champion racers. He was raised by experienced champion trainers and began training as a foal.

In answer to our question, racehorse #4 seems the obvious choice. It appears that this racehorse has dedicated his life to the one career and that gives us good odds that he is better at his job than the others.

When your career is scrutinized by a potential employer the 'odds' that you are better at this job than the others are calculated on the same rationale. Choices that you made years before stand as confirmation of your long standing interests. Your level of skill and expertise in one field is proportional to the quality and quantity of time that you have previously invested in that field. The great Albert Einstein said "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer".

Career planning is about making choices that build on your skill set. Just like Albert Einstein - focusing your energy on just a few fields will drive you towards your career goals.