What Is a Sleep Study?

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is a sleep study? " пїЅ A sleep study is a test that measures how well you sleep and checks for sleep problems. For some sleep studies, you stay overnight in a sleep lab at a hospital or sleep center. пїЅ пїЅ

In other cases, your doctor can give you a portable sleep monitor to use at home, so you dont have to spend the night in the sleep lab. But you should use a portable monitor only if: пїЅ пїЅ

Your doctor thinks you have a condition that makes you stop breathing for short periods while you are asleep, called "sleep apnea. " пїЅ
You do not have other serious medical problems, such as heart disease or lung disease.

What happens during a sleep study? " пїЅ Before you go to sleep, a technician attaches small, sticky patches called "electrodes " пїЅ to your head, chest, and legs. He or she will also place a small tube beneath your nose and might wrap 1 or 2 belts around your chest. пїЅ пїЅ

Each of these items has wires that connect to monitors. The monitors record your movement, brain activity, breathing, and other body functions while you sleep. пїЅ пїЅ

If you have a history of trouble falling asleep, your doctor might prescribe a medicine to help you fall asleep in the lab. If you have never taken the medicine before, your doctor might ask you take it on a night before your sleep study to see how it affects you. пїЅ пїЅ

Why might my doctor order a sleep study? " пїЅ Your doctor will order a sleep study if he or she thinks you have sleep apnea or a different condition that makes you: пїЅ пїЅ

Have sudden jerking leg movements while you sleep, called "periodic limb movements. " пїЅ
Feel very sleepy during the day and fall asleep all of a sudden, called "narcolepsy. " пїЅ
Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep over a long period of time, called "chronic insomnia. " пїЅ
Do odd things while you sleep, such as walking.

How should I prepare for a sleep study? " пїЅ On the day of your sleep study, you should: пїЅ пїЅ

Avoid alcohol
Avoid drinking coffee, tea, sodas, and other drinks that have caffeine in the afternoon and evening
Take all of your regular medicines

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 86220 Version 2.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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What Is a Sleep Study?

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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