What’s It Like to Take a Sleep Study

What to know before a sleep study with Canyon View ENT

“I have to sleep in a lab? Seriously?” This was the reaction from a patient of mine not long ago, in response to my calling for a sleep study. He’d been struggling in recent months with daytime sluggishness, headaches, and mood swings, as well as an ongoing problem with high blood pressure. It was time to get a detailed read on his sleep—the kind of information that can only come from a sleep study. Many people greet the news that they’ll need a sleep study with anxiety and reluctance. That’s understandable—it can be a strange and vulnerable experience, to imagine going sleep and being monitored by strangers in an unfamiliar environment.

Is it worth doing a sleep study?

But these tests are very much worth doing. Sleep studies deliver critical information that helps doctors properly diagnose and treat sleep disorders. The professionals who conduct sleep studies are not only trained in sleep science—they’re also there to help you be as comfortable as you can be during your stay. For nearly all of my patients, the idea of the sleep study is much more uncomfortable than the actual experience.

What kind of sleep study will I take?

There are several different sleep disorders that typically involve a sleep study as part of the diagnosis, including: sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and REM behavior disorder. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor will schedule one of several different types of sleep studies.

Polysomnography

A polysomnogram test measures brain waves and other physiological activity during sleep, including: • Breathing • Heart rate • Leg movements • Eye movements • Blood oxygen levels Capturing this data gives sleep technicians and other clinicians information about your movement through stages and cycles of sleep. Sleep follows a typical pattern, known as sleep architecture. Each cycle of sleep is made up of four sleep stages:

Stages 1-4: Non-REM (NREM)

sleep that ranges from Stage 1 light sleep to Stage 3-4 deep, slow-wave sleep

REM sleep:

A sleep stage that’s characterized by brain activity that’s similar to when awake. REM sleep is a stage associated with vivid dreaming. From beginning to end, one sleep cycle lasts from 90-110 minutes. A full night of sleep contains 4-5 complete sleep cycle. Polysomnogram can pick up disruptions to the normal flow of sleep through stages and cycles, and this data provides valuable information in diagnosing several sleep disorders.

What’s a polysomnogram like?

When you go for a polysomnogram, you’ll sleep in a quiet, private room. During the night, you’ll sleep with electrodes attached to different parts of your body (27 electrodes, to be exact), which will collect data as you rest. The wires that connect the electrodes to monitoring equipment are long, allowing you to move around in bed in your natural way. There are typically video and audio systems in the room, allowing sleep techs to observe your activity as you sleep. If you need to get up at night, sleep techs will help you detach from the equipment temporarily so you can use the bathroom. Y our doctor will review the results of your test and follow up with you, in person or on the phone, to go over your test results and discuss next treatment steps.

What is CPAP?

This sleep study is used to set and adjust individual CPAP levels. What is CPAP? Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a treatment that keeps the airway open and breathing un-obstructed, during sleep. The CPAP machine pushes a gentle, consistent stream of air into the airway, which keeps it from becoming blocked. CPAP is used to treat sleep-disordered breathing, specifically sleep apnea. Once you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor will schedule a CPAP titration study to identify the precise degree of pressure needed to keep your airway open and allow you to breathe normally while asleep.

What’s a CPAP titration like?

Similar to a polysomnogram at a sleep center, when you have CPAP titration you will sleep in a quiet, private room. While you sleep, you will wear sensors and also a nasal mask, which directs the air from the CPAP device into your airway. During the night, a sleep technician will adjust the levels of air pressure, to determine what level is right for you. Your doctor will follow up with you with test results and details about using CPAP at home. Split-night sleep study Sometimes, a sleep study will combine a polysomnogram and CPAP titration study in the same night. This is known as a “split-night” study. This is mostly likely to be the case when a patient is showing clear symptoms of sleep apnea. You will know ahead of time if yours is to be a split-night study. What is a split night study like? Typically, sleepers will go through a polysomnogram during the first half of the night, and CPAP titration during the second half of the night. Multiple Sleep Latency Test The MSLT is used to diagnose narcolepsy, often in conjunction with a polysomnogram. The multiple sleep latency test is conducted during the day in a sleep center or laboratory. MSLT involves 5 20-minute naps at scheduled intervals throughout the day. Sleep specialists evaluate how quickly you fall asleep and what stages of sleep you enter, and for how long, during your naps.

What is MSLT like?

Often, an MSLT will directly follow a polysomnogram, requiring you to remain the controlled sleep environment for a full day after your overnight way. You’ll be given breakfast and lunch, and asked to relax quietly (watching television or reading) between naps, which take place two hours apart. If you can’t fall asleep during the nap window, that’s okay.

Home sleep study kits

In recent years, at-home sleep tests have become more common. It’s important to know: at-home tests are accurate for sleep apnea testing and sleep apnea testing only. These tests are done at home but are ordered by your physician, just as in-laboratory tests are. When your doctor raises the possibility of a study for sleep apnea, you can ask about an at-home option. What is an at-home sleep study like? Your doctor will arrange for you to receive the equipment you need for your at-home study. You may receive it through the mail or you may pick it up from your local hospital, doctor’s office, or medical center. You will receive instructions for using the equipment for 1-3 nights of at-home sleep assessment. Afterward, you will return the equipment, and the data will be analyzed at delivered to your doctor, who will follow up with you about treatment plans. The advantages of at-home sleep studies are pretty clear: comfort and convenience. You get to sleep in your own bed and maintain your natural nighttime routine while your sleep is measured. These tests are less expensive than sleep-laboratory testing. At-home sleep testing isn’t for everyone, so it’s important to follow through with a sleep-lab test if that’s what your doctor recommends.

Some tips to prepare for your sleep study

• Stick to your regular routine in the days before your study. Keep your regular bedtime and wake time, exercise and eat your meals as you normally would.
• Don’t nap during the day, if possible.
• Limit your caffeine (and avoid altogether if your doctor recommends).
• Avoid alcohol.
• Your doctor may ask you to make adjustments to your medications ahead of a sleep study.
• Bring comfortable sleep clothes, as well as toiletries you need for the night and next morning.
• Don’t forget a change of clothes for the next day and some reading material to keep you occupied.

My patient resisted at first but ultimately went ahead with an in-laboratory sleep study. We confirmed a diagnosis of sleep apnea, and he started using CPAP on a nightly basis. He’s sleeping—and feeling—much better as a result, and his blood pressure has improved significantly. He’s a great example of why it’s important to follow through when your doctor suggests a sleep study.

Sweet Dreams,

Dr. Robert Pearson and the team at Canyon View ENT Dr Pearson is board certified in sleep medicine and the Serenity Sleep Center is an accredited sleep facility with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Pearson has been treating patients with sleep disorders for 19 years. We make the process simple and the waiting time down. See why we’re the provider of choice for so many throughout the local Southern Utah and Iron County areas. Call Today to Schedule an Appointment.

Start Sleeping Better Tonight With Canyon View Ent

1251 North Northfield Rd. Ste 200 [email protected]