What Is an Overnight Sleep Study & How to Prepare for It

Quality sleep is vital for our overall health and well-being. However, in today’s fast-paced world, getting enough rest is often overlooked in favor of being productive, leaving us susceptible to stress and a range of sleep-related disorders.

In light of these concerns, the significance of an overnight sleep study, also known as a polysomnography (PSG), becomes apparent. This valuable diagnostic tool provides valuable insight into your sleep patterns and identifies any underlying sleep disorders.

If your doctor suspects you have a sleep disorder, they might recommend that you undergo a sleep study. This comprehensive test can diagnose a variety of sleep-related conditions, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnia.

But what exactly does an overnight sleep study entail? How can you adequately prepare for it, and what should you expect? In this article, we’ll answer these questions and more to help you prepare for your sleep study.

An overnight sleep study is a specialized medical test that diagnoses a wide range of sleep disorders. During this procedure, an array of advanced sensors is used to record various bodily functions as you sleep, including brain wave patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing rates. Essentially, it provides a detailed snapshot of your physiological responses during different sleep stages.

This process usually takes place within a sleep clinic or a specialized sleep disorder unit within a hospital. Typically, it occurs during the night, aligning with natural sleep-wake cycles. However, accommodations can be made for individuals with daytime sleep schedules, such as night shift workers. 

The goal is to create a controlled environment that closely mimics your typical sleeping conditions, ensuring accurate data collection. Plus, the overnight sleep study is also a critical step in developing personalized treatment plans to address conditions like sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), narcolepsy, and insomnia. 

In certain cases, you may have the option to undergo an at-home sleep test instead. Home-based sleep tests are typically less expensive and more convenient than in-lab sleep studies. But, they don’t provide the comprehensive evaluation that in-lab sleep tests do.

A home sleep apnea test measures your breathing effort, heart rate, oxygen level, snoring and how deep or shallowing your breathing is. Unlike an overnight sleep study, it doesn’t measure your brain waves and therefore, it can’t determine sleep quality and cannot be used to diagnose sleep disorders that stem from neurological issues.

Overnight sleep studies are important for diagnosing various sleep-related disorders. They are especially helpful for those with the following symptoms:

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• persistent snoring
• insomnia
• restless legs at night
• mood swings
• memory issues
• sleep paralysis
• hallucinations 
• teeth grinding during sleep
• night terrors
• sleep walking 
• seizures and epilepsies
• eating in your sleep

Recognizing these symptoms and promptly seeking medical attention is vital because untreated sleep disorders can lead to significant health risks. They can increase the likelihood of cardiovascular issues, diabetes, obesity, and mental health challenges. Moreover, sleep disorders can affect your day-to-day functioning and diminish your overall quality of life.

An overnight sleep study is conducted at a sleep clinic by a team of specialists in the field of sleep medicine. This team consists of sleep technologists, sleep physicians, and when required, additional healthcare professionals.

To provide a clearer understanding, let’s outline the roles and responsibilities of these sleep healthcare professionals:

• Sleep Technologists: These professionals are trained to set up the necessary equipment for your sleep study and continuously monitor your sleep throughout the night. They collect data from the monitoring equipment and record your sleep patterns.

• Sleep Physicians: These doctors specialize in sleep disorders. They interpret the results of your sleep study and if needed, prescribed you with the necessary treatment for your sleep-related condition.

• Other Healthcare Professionals: Depending on your unique circumstances and needs, additional healthcare specialists, such as pulmonologists or neurologists, may also be part of your sleep study team to ensure comprehensive care.

An overnight sleep study has little to no side effects and risks. That said, some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from the adhesives or tapes used for attaching sensors to the skin. The discomfort, however, is typically temporary and manageable, and sleep technicians are trained to ensure that the sensors and equipment are applied as comfortably as possible.

In addition to the mild skin irritation, there are also the potential challenges of falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment. However, it’s important to understand that the benefits of an overnight sleep test far outweigh these minor inconveniences.

Proper preparation for your sleep study at the sleep lab is crucial to ensure an accurate diagnosis of potential sleep-related issues. To effectively get ready for your sleep apnea lab test, follow these essential steps:

Prioritize a Good Night’s Sleep 

Make an effort to enjoy a restful night’s sleep in the evening before your study. This ensures that you arrive at the sleep lab feeling sufficiently tired and ready for the examination.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol 

In the 24 hours leading up to your study, it’s advisable to steer clear of caffeine and alcohol, as they can disrupt your sleep patterns and affect the quality of data collected during the study.

Eat a Light Dinner 

Have a light dinner before heading to the sleep lab. A heavy meal may cause discomfort and make it more challenging to fall asleep comfortably during the study.

Avoid Hair Products

Take a shower before your sleep study but make sure to avoid using conditioner on your hair. Also refrain from applying any hair spray, oils or gels as they can interfere with the electrodes used during the examination.

Remove Contact Lenses 

If you wear contact lenses, remove them before the study begins to ensure they don’t interfere with the results. Part of how the monitoring equipment determines what sleep stage you’re in is by tracking eye movement.

Be Comfortable 

Remember to pack comfortable pajamas and toiletries, as you’ll be staying overnight at the sleep clinic.

Consult on Medications 

If you are taking medications, your sleep specialist will let you know whether or not you should take them on the night of the study. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, disrupt sleep and may affect the results of your sleep study. Your healthcare provider can provide guidance on any adjustments that may be necessary so it’s important to make them aware of any non-prescription medications you’re taking as well.

Undergoing an overnight polysomnography is a proactive approach to enhancing your health. This is the gold standard for the early detection and management of sleep disorders, specifically sleep apnea, potentially reducing the risk of more severe health consequences down the road.

Whether it’s persistent snoring, daytime fatigue, or difficulty concentrating during the day, recognizing these symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention is the first step toward addressing sleep-related challenges.

At RespShop, we understand that in-lab sleep studies are not for everyone. Therefore, we’ve partnered up with sleep physicians to provide a convenient at-home sleep test kit so you can test for sleep apnea in the comfort of your own home. It’s fully disposable, accurate and the only requirement is that you must have a smartphone. Follow-up appointments are conducted via telemedicine, so you can get diagnosed with minimal disruption to your daily routine.

So why wait? Embark on your transformative journey today and take the first step towards better sleep. Your path to sleep therapy success begins at RespShop.com!