Sleep Study
Overview
A sleep study is an overnight examination that allows physicians to monitor the changes that happen to your body while sleeping. An EEG monitors your sleep stages and REM and non-REM sleep. It identifies any disruption in your sleep. A sleep study will also measure your eye movements, blood oxygen levels, heart and breathing rates, snoring and body movements while you sleep. The technician will then score the study and the physician will interpret it.
Types
- Polysomnography: This is an in-lab study performed at a sleep center. Technicians monitor changes in your body as you progress through the various sleep stages.
- Home Sleep Study: This is a study performed in the comfort of your home. While breathing and heart rates as well as snoring can be monitored, it usually provides less information than an in-lab study. This study does not require oversight by a technician.
- CPAP Titration Study: This is also conducted at a sleep center. It allows the physician to determine the ideal air pressure needed to keep your airway open while sleeping.
- Split Night Study: If there is high suspicion of sleep apnea, this is an option. The first half of the night is used to diagnose sleep apnea while CPAP titration is conducted in the second half of the night.
- Multiple Sleep Latency Test: This is used to diagnose conditions such as narcolepsy. It measures how quickly someone falls asleep during the day.
Preparing for your sleep study
- Eat regularly scheduled meals the day of your sleep study.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine or chocolate for at least 24 hours before your sleep study.
- Speak to your physician about stopping certain medications before your sleep study.
- Do not take naps the day of your sleep study.
- Do not use make-up, lotion, powders, perfume, cologne, conditioners, hair spray or gels in your hair the day of your sleep study. This can interfere with the electrode recordings.
- If you are having an overnight study, wear loose fitting sleepwear and bring personal toiletry items and medications that you normally take. In addition, bring a change of clothes.
Patient Education and Resources