Sleep Studies and What You Need to Know

The presence of sleep apnea is a tricky thing to understand, even sometimes for physicians. If you are experiencing symptoms that sound like sleep apnea (i.e. loud, disruptive snoring, frequent breathless night awakenings, insomnia, etc.), the best way to determine if you do indeed suffer from the disorder is a sleep study or sleep test. There are a few common types of sleep studies available.

These sleep studies include:

•    Polysomnogram (PSG)
This study usually takes place overnight in a sleep center. While you sleep, PSG tracks your eye movements, brain activity, hear rate, and blood pressure. Your blood oxygen levels are also noted, as well as any constricted breathing in the nose or chest.

•    Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
Usually conducted the day after a PSG test, this test is a daytime study performed to determine how sleepy you are. MSLT involves relaxing in a quiet, dark room for a half hour while a technician checks brain activity.

•    Home-Based Portable Monitor
This take-home sleep test records much of the same information as PSG. A home-based test may not be appropriate for all sleep apnea patients. Our expert in sleep apnea in Los Angeles can help you decide if it is right for you.

Before our specialist issues a mouthpiece for sleep apnea, a sleep apnea test is often administered to determine the presence of the disorder.