Sleep studies are a tool used by doctors in the diagnosing of sleep disorders. They can help to determine if you have a sleep disorder and how severe the sleep disorder is. Sleep studies are beneficial because they can diagnose a sleeping problem that if left untreated could put an individual at risk for serious health issues such as having high blood pressure, which could lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
If left up to the individual they might never be aware of breathing difficulties or movements issues that they have during sleep because when you are asleep you are mostly unaware of breathing difficulties and may or may not be aware of any movements that you are making during your sleep. These movements can disturb your sleep.
Individuals who repeatedly feel tired at school or work, have difficulties staying awake during the daytime or who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep should seek medical help in determining if they have a sleep disorder or not. It is also important to know the extent of your sleeping disorder, as this will determine the best treatment for you.
Sleep studies are used in the diagnosis of sleep apnea, sleep-related seizure disorders, parasomnias such as sleepwalking and sleep talking, narcolepsy, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders.
There are four basic types of sleep studies including polysomnogram (PSG), multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) and actigraphy.
The polysomnogram (PSG) is done while you stay overnight at a sleep center. The PSG records your brain activity, eye movements, heart rate and blood pressure while you sleep. It also records the amount of oxygen that you have in you blood while you sleep and how much airflow is moving through your nose while you breath. It records your chest movements while you sleep and can also record any breathing sounds such as snoring that occur during your sleep.
The PSG is used to diagnose insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, sleep-related seizure disorders and sleepwalking. If you are using a CPAP machine your doctor may recommend a PSG in order to regulate the setting on your CPAP.
If you had surgery to correct an obstruction, a PSG may be ordered to see how well the surgery worked.
A Multiple Sleep Latency Test is a daytime sleep study that measure how sleepy you get during the day. You are hooked up to the machine during the daytime in a quiet room for 30 minutes. Rapid eye movement is monitored. The test is then repeated 3 or 4 times during the day to compare readings. This study is usually done the day after an overnight PSG is done. Multiple sleep latency tests are done to diagnose sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia and circadian rhythm disorders.
A Maintenance of Wakefulness test is done in order to check your ability to stay awake during the day for your safety and for the public’s safety and also to check your response to medication.
Actigraphy is a sleep study that is done as you go about your regular daily routine and does not require an overnight stay in a sleep clinic. It is a device that is worn like a wristwatch. You may need to wear the device for several days. You do not wear the device while in water. This test is designed to give the doctor an idea of your sleep habits.
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