Sleep Study Preparation
Before coming to the Sleep Diagnostic Center you
should shower and wash your hair. Use minimal hair
care and skin products. You will pack like you would
if you were planning to stay over-night at a hotel,
bringing sleepwear, toiletries and any medications
you may need.
You should avoid caffeine in the afternoon before
your study and do not have a nap. Eat a normal-size
dinner before your appointment.
The most common worry people have is that they
will not be able to sleep in a strange environment
or with the leads used to monitor during the study.
Each person has a separate room with a private
restroom and shower. The wires are attached so that
you can sleep in the same position as you normally
do at home and you are reasonably free to move
around. Some people feel more comfortable with
their favorite pillow or blanket from home.
What if I need to cancel or
reschedule my study?
Please contact the Sleep Diagnostic Center as soon
as possible if you need to change your appointment.
A private bedroom with bathroom will be reserved
for you for the entire evening. A sleep technologist
or respiratory therapist will be assigned to monitor
your study throughout the night. Late cancellations
or no-shows result in empty bedrooms and staff
being sent home. Please allow as much time as
possible when cancellation cannot be avoided.
Why do I need a sleep study?
Sleep isn’t just “time out” from daily life. It is an
active state important for renewing our mental
and physical health each day. At least 84 disorders
of sleeping and waking lead to a lowered quality of
life and reduced personal health. Sleep disorders
are linked to such health problems as High Blood
Pressure, Heart Disease, Stroke, Depression, and
even Diabetes. A sleep study, also known as a
polysomnogram is needed to fully understand your
sleep and any problems with it. We need to look
at various brain activities and body systems and
their relationships throughout the night. After the
study, a sleep specialist will review and interpret
the record to help you and your healthcare provider
understand your specific sleep patterns. Treatment
recommendations will be made if evidence of a sleep
disorder is found.
Why to I have to come back for a second study?
Sleep Apnea is one of the most frequently
recognized sleep disorders. Patients suffering from
sleep apnea report many of the following symptoms:
witnessed pauses in their breathing, loud snoring,
restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory
impairment, and lack of concentration. Patients with
sleep apnea suffer from repetitive periods of partial
or complete closure of the airway. These closures,
known as apneas, are treated with positive airway
pressure delivered through a nasal mask. Patients
who test positive for sleep apnea need to return for
a second study to determine what type of mask and
what level of pressure will be needed.
Routine diagnostic study
When arriving on the evening of your study you will
change into your sleep-wear then the technician will
prepare you for the study. Electrodes (a small metal
cup on the end of an insulated wire) will be attached
to your scalp and face. The electrodes are held in
place with paste on the scalp and tape on the face.
Elasticized bands are placed around your chest and
abdomen to detect breathing movement, a sensor
will rest beneath your nose to detect airflow and a
probe is put on your finger to measure oxygen. All
these sensors are connected to a small jack box with
a carrying strap. Once the initial setup is completed
you can watch TV or read until you are ready to go
to bed.
The room intercom is always on. If you need
anything, you simply speak out to your technician.
If you need to use the restroom during the study,
let your technician know and he/she will disconnect
the cable from your jack box and you will be free to
move about.