What To Expect During A Sleep Study
Most sleep disorders are easily treated, which can dramatically improve your quality of life. If your physician suspects you have a sleep disorder, you may be referred for an overnight sleep study - or polysomnogram. This test is the most common test to analyze your sleep and is performed as an outpatient procedure during at overnight stay at an SSM Health Sleep Center.
If you consistently feel tired during the day despite getting enough sleep or routinely wake up feeling unrested, you may have a sleep disorder. Schedule an appointment with your SSM Health provider to discuss your results.
What to Expect During a Sleep Study (Polysomnogram)
When you arrive at the SSM Health Sleep Center location – a few hours prior to your regular bedtime – you will be greeted by a trained sleep technician. He or she will show you to your accommodations and address any questions or concerns that you might have about your sleep testing.
Throughout the course of your sleep, the monitoring equipment is recording your sleep patterns, oxygen levels, and body movements. An experienced sleep technician monitors these sleep patterns from an adjacent room throughout the night. We require seven hours of recorded sleep patterns to adequately complete the test.
During the test, at least 13 sensors will monitor different aspects of your sleep, including:
Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measures and records the electrical activity of your brain in order to determine the different stages of your sleep. Certain conditions, such as seizures, can be seen by the changes in the normal pattern of the brain's electrical activity.
Electromyogram (EMG): Measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during sleep. This sensor evaluates disorders like restless leg syndrome and periodic leg movement disorder.
Electro-occulography (EOG): Measures movement of the eyes and can help determine the stage of sleep.
Electrocardiogram (ECG): Monitors the electrical activity of your heart and evaluates any potential rhythm abnormalities associated with sleep disorders.
Respiratory Monitoring: Monitors your breathing and evaluates for sleep related breathing disorders including sleep apnea.
Oximetry: Measures the concentration of oxygen in the blood which helps check the functionality of the heart and lungs.
In addition, an infrared video camera will help the sleep technician to monitor your sleep.
What Happens in the Morning After My Test?
After the test is complete, a private bathroom with shower is available for your use before heading home or to work. The sleep technician will share your sleep data from the prior evening with a physician who is specially trained and experienced in interpreting sleep studies. The physician will interpret your test based on your medical history, your self-assessment, and your recorded sleep patterns.
Typically, your study is complete after one night. However, you may be asked to stay during the day for additional testing or come back for another night if an additional study is required.
When Will I Receive the Results?
Generally, the results of your sleep study will be shared with your primary physician within one week after your test. Together with your physician, our sleep specialist will develop an individualized treatment plan based on your study, so you can get the sleep you deserve.