FAQ
1. Why is my doctor ordering a sleep study?
2. Why is a sleep study important?
3. What type of sleep studies doe SomnoMedics facilitate?
4. Are sleep studies painful?
5. How should I prepare for a sleep study?
6. What do I bring with me to the sleep study?
7. Are there risks involved in a sleep study?
8. What equipment is involved in the sleep study?
9. What happens during a sleep study?
10. What happens after a sleep study?
11. If I have OSA, how soon after the study will I be able to start treatment?
12. Can I bring food?
13. Can I bring a sleeping partner?
14. After the study, will I be able to drive?
15. Will there be other people taking a sleep study at the same time that I am?
16. If I have to use the restroom during my study, am I able to do so?
1. Why is my doctor ordering a sleep study?
Sleep studies allow doctors to measure how much and how well you sleep. They also help show whether you have sleep problems and how severe they are.
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2. Why is a sleep study important?
Sleep studies are important because untreated sleep disorders can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and other medical conditions. Sleep disorders also have been linked to an increased risk of injury due to falls and car accidents. Sleep studies also can help doctors diagnose sleep-related breathing disorders (such as sleep apnea), sleep-related seizure disorders, and narcolepsy. Sleep studies allow doctors to watch sleep patterns and note sleep-related problems that patients don’t know or can’t describe during routine office visits. These studies are needed to diagnose certain sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea. After your sleep study, your doctor will get the results. The results may include information about sleep and wake times, sleep stages, abnormal breathing, the amount of oxygen in your blood, and any movement during sleep. Your doctor will use your sleep study results and your medical and sleep histories to make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan.
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3.What type of sleep studies doe SomnoMedics facilitate?
A polysomnogram (PSG) is an overnight sleep study that records brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also records the amount of oxygen in your blood, how much air is moving through your nose while you breathe, snoring, and chest movements that show whether you’re making an effort to breathe. For more details on the PSG click here.
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4. Are sleep studies painful?
Sleep studies are painless. The PSG is done in one of SomnoMedic’s sleep labs. The room the study is done in is comfortable and resembles a nicely furnished home bedroom.
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5. How should I prepare for a sleep study?
Before a sleep study, your doctor may ask you to keep a sleep diary or sleep log. You’ll record information such as when you went to bed, when you woke up, how many times you woke up during the night, and more. You also may need to stop or limit the use of tobacco, caffeine and other stimulants, and some medicines before having a sleep study. Talk with your doctor before the sleep study and never stop taking your medicines unless the doctor who prescribed them tells you to do so.
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6. What do I bring with me to the sleep study?
Depending on what type of sleep study you’re having, you may need to bring: Insurance cards, identification and copay’s if applicable. Notes from your sleep diary or sleep log. These may be helpful to your doctor. Pajamas or some type of two piece sleeping attire and a toothbrush for overnight sleep studies.
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7. Are there risks involved in a sleep study?
The risks of sleep studies are minimal. There is a small risk of skin irritation from the sensors. The irritation will go away once the sensors are removed.
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8. What equipment is involved in the sleep study?
In your sleep study the equipment used will be a computer and head box. Sixteen electrodes will be attached to your body to monitor you during your sleep. Click here for an image.
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9. What happens during a sleep study?
Sticky patches and sensors called electrodes are placed on your scalp, face, chest, limbs, and a finger. While you sleep, these sensors record your brain activity, eye movements, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and the amount of oxygen in your blood. Elastic belts are placed around your chest and abdomen. They measure chest movements and the strength and duration of inhaled and exhaled breaths. Wires attached to the sensors transmit the data to a computer in the next room. The wires are very thin and flexible and are bundled together so they don’t restrict movement, disrupt your sleep, or cause other discomfort. For more detail, click here.
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10. What happens after a sleep study?
After a sleep study, your doctor will get the results. The results may include information about sleep and wake times, sleep stages, abnormal breathing, the amount of oxygen in your blood, and any movement during sleep. Your doctor will study the results and use them and your medical and sleep histories to make a diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan. You may not get the diagnosis until a few weeks after the sleep study.
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11. If I have OSA, how soon after the study will I be able to start treatment?
If we have the proper documentation such as approval from your physician and benefits verified with insurance, you may begin treatment the morning after your study.
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12. Can I bring food?
Yes. We also have some light snacks available at the lab.
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13. Can I bring a sleeping partner?
No. However, if medically necessary a caregiver can accompany you to the study. We will provide a recliner or inflatable mattress for the caregiver. Please inform us prior to the night of your study if a caregiver must accompany you.
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14. After the study, will I be able to drive?
Yes. There is nothing in the study that will affect your driving capabilities.
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15. Will there be other people taking a sleep study at the same time that I am?
Each of our labs have two to four beds. Therefore, there is a possibility of another study being conducted yet you will have your own individual room.
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16. If I have to use the restroom during my study, am I able to do so?
Yes. The bathroom facility is not located in your bedroom.
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