Polysomnography is a sleep study test that is performed to diagnose several sleep disorders. Polysomnography monitors your brain waves, heart rate, limb movement, and breathing pattern. Also your eye movement when performed during the daytime.
Polysomnography can be done at a sleep center or at a hospital in which a separate unit is created for the diagnosis process. While the whole polysomnography is done during the night generally, it can be performed during the day if you're a shift worker and sleep during the day.
In addition to the diagnosis provided by polysomnography, it also helps in reducing sleep disorders. If you are diagnosed with a sleeping disorder you must undergo treatment. The treatment management plan is often recommended by your doctor or sleep consultant.
Sometimes, you will be allowed to study at your home. At home, polysomnography tests focus much on curing the disorder, and hence, it does not have many requirements and devices associated.
Why has a polysomnography test done?
polysomnography monitors your sleeping and breathing patterns to have a clear idea about how sleeping disorders are affecting your sleep and why?
There are different types of sleep study equipment that can be a combination of sensors for diagnosis. These sensors capture your breathing rate, heartbeat rate, and sleeping patterns. It also captures the date of your blood vessel tone.
The procedure of falling asleep fast starts with a rapid eye movement (REM). During this stage, your brain waves are captured by the machine called ECG.
Your doctor will recommend you to undergo polysomnography if suspicious of the following sleep disorders.-
Sleep Apnea
It is a disorder in which a person faces recurrent breathing issues while sleeping. It can be the reason for other disorders like snoring.
Periodic limb movement disorder
In the disorder, a person extends their legs and keeps changing their position throughout. This condition is associated with restless leg syndrome.
Narcolepsy
You face recurrent dizziness, daytime sleepiness, and overwhelmingly lethargic during the daytime.
REM sleep behavior disorder
In this disorder, a person is more likely to undergo an episode where he/ she performs their dreams.
Unusual patterns while sleep
Your doctor may ask you to undergo polysomnography if you sleepwalk, sleep talk, and do unusual activities while sleeping during the day
Unexpected chronic insomnia
If you are not able to fall asleep or stay asleep for longer hours, your doctor may advise you to go through polysomnography.
Risks
It is a painless test which can cause skin irritation to its maximum. Other than that there are no side effects.
How you should prepare for the test.
You are advised not to consume caffeine and nicotine before the teat, it works as a stimulant which can interfere with sleeping patterns and make them even worse. They should not be consumed before an evening of sleep study test
Taking naps during the daytime and before your polysomnography test is highly discouraged. You might need to go for a bath or a clean up before your sleep study. Also, it is advised not to put any makeup, lotions, gels, etc before the sleep study test because it can disturb the surfacing of electrodes.
For at-home sleep apnea treatment, your equipment will be delivered at your doorstep or your doctor's clinic. You will be provided guidelines about using the device at home or in the clinic. You must ask a doctor if you're inquisitive about how the equipment functions.
The information gathered after polysomnography is reviewed by the polysomnography technology to create charts of your sleeping patterns and data for your treatment. That information is reviewed by your doctor or sleep consultant.
Summary- Sleep study, also known as polysomnography is referred for diagnosing sleeping disorders.