What to Expect of the Sleep Study
Based on the initial evaluation and exam, your Sleep Center doctor may conduct one or more of the following studies:
- Overnight polysomnography - an all-night study used to measure sleep patterns
- Multiple sleep latency testing - a series of five scheduled daytime studies used to measure levels of daytime sleepiness
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure testing (NCPAP) - used to determine the optimal pressure in a device used for treatment of sleep apnea patients
These quiet, comfortable, temperature-controlled rooms are similar to those found in a hotel. During a sleep lab study, standardized recording techniques enable the tracking of as many as 21 physiological variables including:
- EEG (a measure of the brain's electrical activity)
- Heart rate and rhythm
- Eye movements
- Muscle tone
- Leg movements
- Respiratory effects
- Blood oxygen levels
Your sleep will be further documented by audio visual cameras and recorders and continuously monitored by a sleep technician in another room. This data is used to determine the diagnosis and most effective treatment plan.
For more information call the Sleep Center at 828-213-4670.
