A sleep study, known as a polysomnogram, is an overnight test in which a number of bodily activities are simultaneously recorded during sleep to help determine the cause of a sleeping problem.

Sleep is as essential as diet and exercise. Sleep is very important for the daily functioning of the body. Sleep helps in consolidation memory and also helps maintain the homeostasis of the body. Inadequate sleep can result in fatigue, depression, concentration problems, illness and injury.

Poor sleep causes high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and obesity. Poor sleep can cause of impaired immunity and memory.

A sleep study is an important part in the diagnoses of Sleep disorders as it enables your physician to accurately diagnose Sleep Apnea Syndromes and other intrinsic Sleep Disorders like abnormal limb movements or coexisting seizures disorders. A sleep study also gives insights into the various stages and restorative quality of sleep. Sleep disturbances can result because of insufficient Quality of sleep.

Untreated Sleep disorders increase your chances for having heart failure, Diabetes etc. Sleep disorders are also related to self injuries to the patient as well as to their bed partners.

Prior to the study, a sleep technologist will place sensors on your scalp, face, chest and legs. These sensors will record brainwave activity (to assess sleep stage), eye movements, muscle activity, heart rhythm, body movements, nasal/oral airflow, respiratory effort and oxygenation. At times it may be supplemented with video recording if there are any reported abnormal movements in sleep.

The hookup procedure starts shortly after the scheduled appointment time and will take roughly 20 to 25 minutes. The testing procedure typically starts as per the patient regular sleep time schedule and will continue till patient wakes up. The technologist will be located in the monitoring room in the hallway next to the bedroom throughout the night.

Precautions to be taken as do not take any caffeine in the afternoon or evening before an overnight sleep study. This includes coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. Also avoid drinking any alcohol. As it would affect patient sleep. Try not to take any naps that day. Before going to the sleep center, wash hair with shampoo and do not apply any hair sprays, oils or gels. If used, they could interfere with the sensors during the study.

During sleep our body functions differently than when we are awake. The only way to determine just how well your body is functioning is with the sensors. They are all necessary in order to get a complete picture of what is happening.

The test is non-invasive and not painful.