When it comes to sleep testing, there is a sleep study known as polysomnography. So, today we’ve decided to share everything you need to know about polysomnography as a possible way to diagnose sleep disorders. The sleep study monitors and records your brain waves, heart rate, oxygen level in your blood, breathing, and eye and leg movements.

This sleep study is performed at a sleep disorders unit in a hospital or at a sleep center. Polysomnography is used to record the night time sleep patterns, but can also be done during the day if you work in shifts and you’re used to sleep during the day. The test doesn’t only help in diagnosing sleep disorders, but also helps in adjusting your treatment if you have already been diagnosed with a certain sleep disorder.

Why is Polysomnography Done?

Polysomnography monitors and records the sleep stages and cycles in order to identify whether or when your sleep patterns are disrupted and the reason this happened. The normal sleeping process starts with a sleep stage called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during which your brain waves slow down considerably. During this sleep stage, your eyes don’t move back and forth rapidly. Then, after two hours of this stage, the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins where most of the dreaming occurs. A person usually goes through multiple sleep cycles at night and cycles between NREM and REM sleep in about 90 minutes. However, these stages can be disturbed if there is a sleep disorder present.

The possible reasons why you might get recommend polysomnography by your doctors include:

• Periodic limb movement disorder during which a person in voluntarily flexes and extends the legs while sleeping;
• Sleep apnea or some other sleep-related breathing disorder during which the breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep;
• REM sleep behavior disorder which involves acting out dreams as you sleep;
• Narcolepsy which results in excessive daytime drowsiness;
• Unexplained chronic insomnia which is characteristic with trouble falling asleep or staying asleep;
• Unusual behaviors during sleep, such as moving a lot or walking;

What’s great about polysomnography is that it’s a completely painless and non-invasive test. The only side effect some people might experience is skin irritation which is caused by the adhesive used to attach test sensors to your skin.

How to Prepare and What to Expect from Polysomnography?

In order to prepare for this sleep study, you will be advised to avoid food and drinks which contain alcohol or caffeine. This means that you should avoid such foods and beverages during the afternoon and evening before the test. The reason for this is because such foods change sleep patterns and or make some sleep disorders worse. Moreover, you shouldn’t nap in the afternoon before the test. You will be asked to take a shower before the study, but without putting lotions, colognes, gels, or makeup.

When the day for polysomnography comes, you will have to go to the sleep center in the evening and stay there overnight. You are encouraged to sleep with your personal night clothes and take some items which are part of your bedtime routine.

The room where this study is conducted is quite similar to a hotel room and has a bathroom. The room will be quiet and dark during the test. Moreover, the room will have a low-light video camera with an audio system which will help the polysomnography technologists monitor you during sleep.

As soon as you are ready for sleep, the technologists will place sensors on your scalp, temples, chest and legs using a mild adhesive. These sensors are connected by wires to a computer. Additionally, there will be a small clip placed on your finger or ear to monitor the level of oxygen in your blood.

The polysomnography technologists will monitor your heart rate, eye movement, brain waves, body position, breathing pattern, chest movement, blood oxygen level, snoring, and limb movement during sleep. If you feel the need to get up during the night, the technologists will come to detach the wires.

If the technologists notice signs of sleep apnea, they might want to try a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine which delivers a constant stream of air that keeps the airway passages open while you sleep.

After you finish with the study you can leave the sleep center in the morning. Then, you’ll be given an appointment for a follow-up visit with a doctor who will read your results. The measurements from your polysomnography show plenty of information about your sleep patterns. The information is first evaluated by a polysomnography technologist and then reviews by your doctor. Based on the results, you will discuss the possible treatment options.