When Is It Time For A Sleep Study?

A sleep study is an important test that helps your doctor confirm or rule out the presence of a sleep disorder.

In this blog, the sleep specialists at eos sleep diagnostics help you understand when and why your doctor may recommend a sleep study.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study (also called polysomnography) is a non-invasive test that monitors exactly what happens to your body as you sleep. It records the following data for evaluation by your doctor:

• Brainwaves
• Heart rate
• Breathing rate and pattern
• Movements
• Blood oxygen level
• Snoring, talking, and other noises

What does a sleep study test for?

This study can confirm or rule out the presence of a sleep disorder. It may also be used to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment you’ve been receiving if you’ve already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

It can help your doctor determine if you have sleep disorders that include the following:

• Sleep apnea
• Narcolepsy
• Insomnia
• Restless legs syndrome

When is a sleep study recommended?

Your doctor may suggest that you undergo this type of study if you have any of the following symptoms of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea:

• Chronic loud snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Gasping or snorting sounds during sleep
• Awakening suddenly at night
• Morning headaches
• Changes in mood and/or ability to concentrate and remember
• Decreased libido

How is the study performed?

This test is performed overnight and can be conducted in a sleep lab or at home. Sensors are attached to your scalp and body, and they’re connected to a computer via wires. The wires are long enough to allow you to move around, and the study can be temporarily stopped if you need to use the restroom at night.

The sensors aren’t painful, and most people get used to them in just a few minutes. Throughout the night, they transmit data to the computer, recording information about your heart rate, breathing, and more. When your doctor examines and evaluates the information from your sleep study, he or she will be able to confirm or rule out the presence of a sleep disorder.

If you have symptoms such as snoring that could indicate that you have a sleep disorder, make an appointment today for an evaluation with eos sleep diagnostics. We offer sleep studies in our lab as well as in your home and will make an accurate diagnosis based on the data collected. We’ll then create an effective plan to help alleviate your symptoms