You may wish to fill out an Epworth Sleepiness Scale form and return it to us if you have any concerns about your sleep health.
If you have been diagnosed with a sleep problem or disorder, you primary care physician may refer you to a sleep lab or clinic where you will participate in a sleep study. A sleep study (also called a polysomnogram) is a test that records your physical state during various stages of sleep wakefulness. It provides data that are essential in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints, such as identifying sleep stages, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring and general sleep behavior.
Usually you will make an appointment for your visit, which will take place at night. The sleep center may send you forms requesting your medical and sleep history prior to your appointment with the doctor. The form may ask for your bed partner’s responses to some of these questions, since you may not be aware that you snore, stop breathing (sleep apnea) or kick your legs when you sleep. It also may provide tips and some special instructions for your sleep test.
Before your sleep test, you may meet with a physician or sleep specialist, who will go over your medical and sleep history. You may participate in a “split-night” test, in which half the night will be used to diagnose your sleep problem, and the other half will be used to treat the problem. This is sometimes done with patients who are being tested for sleep apnea.
After you arrive at the sleep center, you may be asked to complete a questionnaire on your sleep the night before. Many sleep centers offer a video or other information about the sleep study or specific disorders such as sleep apnea, since a significant percentage of those who have sleep tests are suspected to have sleep apnea. The video may also address what you should expect during the sleep test to ease any fears that you may have. Then you will be asked to change into nightclothes.
After changing, someone called a Polysomnography technician will connect you to the electrodes that will record your brain waves and muscle movements throughout the night. The electrodes are placed in specific areas and applied with water-soluble glue and tape. The electrodes record brain waves, muscle movement, rapid eye movement (REM), air intake, and periodic limb movement. A microphone attached to your neck records snoring, and two belt-like straps around the chest and lower abdomen monitor muscle movement during breathing. Despite all of the equipment, most people say it doesn’t disrupt their sleep.
After getting into bed, your technician may go to a monitoring room and ask you over an intercom to perform certain tasks that will show the electrodes are recording properly. You will be observed on a television monitor during the night, but that is to allow the technician to note your body movements during sleep.
When everything is working properly, the lights will be turned off and you can go to sleep. Many patients are so chronically tired that they have no problem falling asleep. While you are sleeping, your brain waves will be recorded to determine when you are awake or in Stage 1,2,3,4 or REM sleep. You will be awakened in the morning and the electrodes will be removed. Since they are applied with water-soluble glue or tape, removal is not painful. You will need to make an appointment with a sleep specialist to review the results of your study. You might be asked to complete a questionnaire concerning your sleep from the previous night, and then you can go home.
Based on the results of your sleep study, you may need to return to the sleep center for a second night study, or you may be given treatment for a specific sleep disorder. For example, patients with sleep apnea may be prescribed Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP, which is a device that gently blows are into your nasal passages to keep the airway open while you are asleep.
If you have any questions on the testing procedure, or the results of your sleep study, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,