Sleep Studies
Multiple Sleep Latency Test, Polysomnogram (Sleep Study), Sleep Apnea Study
What To Think About
- Sleep studies may be done when symptoms of a sleep problem have lasted at least 6 months. Many health conditions can cause abnormal sleep. These include restless legs syndrome, obesity, heart or respiratory diseases, hypothyroidism, depression, and neuromuscular diseases (such as Parkinson's disease).
- A second polysomnographic study may be needed if you were unable to sleep long enough for the test. Also, after your sleep problem has been identified, you may need a second study if your doctor orders treatment such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
- A split night study is another type of sleep study. During the first half of the night, you are checked for sleep apnea; during the second half of the night, your apnea is treated with breathing aids (such as CPAP) to open your blocked airway.
- Portable sleep study equipment is available for a person to do sleep studies at home. This may be a choice for people who have problems sleeping in a sleep lab. However, home sleep studies may not give the same results as a sleep lab.
- In rare cases, a pH test may be done during a sleep study to see if there is reflux of stomach juices into the esophagus. For a pH test, a small wire is placed in the nose and guided to the lower part of the esophagus.
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: July 13, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
Health Tools  | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
 | What To Think About |
| References | |
| Credits | |