Sleep studies measure how much and how well you sleep as well as how alert you are during the daytime. A sleep test helps physicians diagnose potential sleep disorders, assess their severity and develop a treatment plan for you. After asking questions about your sleep habits and daytime alertness, your physician may recommend you have a sleep study.
Types of studies
You may participate in one or more of the following types of sleep studies:
- Overnight sleep study. Polysomnogram(pol-e-SOM-no-gram), or PSG is conducted overnight at one of our sleep centers.
- CPAP study is used to determine the right air pressure for CPAP therapy in patients with sleep apnea.
- Multiple sleep latency test, or MSLT, measures how quickly you fall asleep during quiet daytime situations.
- Maintenance of wakefulness test, or MWT measures your daytime alertness.
- Home-based portable monitor allows you to conduct a sleep test at home.
- Split night sleep study can help determine if you have sleep apnea.
Monitors used during a sleep study
Depending on the type of study you have, monitors will be placed on your body to measure your sleep and body reactions. For example, some of the following monitors may be used:
- EEG or electroencephalogram measures brain wave activity.
- EMG or electromyogram records the muscle activity such as facial twitches, teeth grinding, and leg movement to determine the presence of REM.
- EOG or electro-oculogram records eye movement to help determine the different stages of sleep.
- EKG or electrocardiogram measures heart activities.
- Nasal airflow sensors placed around the mouth and nose, record breath temperature, airflow and helps in determining if you have sleep apnea.
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