You’ve Been Prescribed a Sleep Study. Now What?

It is very important that you follow through with the prescription and get evaluated, because if left untreated, sleep apnea is associated with many serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, headaches, asthma and depression. Fortunately, if you do have sleep apnea, there is effective treatment available.

Dr. Avi, Medical Director of the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute, notes, “Many patients think that being tired is a normal part of working hard and growing older. It's not. Getting diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea can provide quick relief from the fatigue, tiredness, and reduce the risk of more serious diseases.”

So what can you expect during your stay?

First, know that you can relax. At the Aviisha sleep labs, getting tested is easy and comfortable. The environment provided for your sleep study is warm and inviting, and you will be treated like a guest by the staff. There is no sensation of being “studied” like a specimen in a laboratory, because the sleep technicians understand that you need to feel relaxed in order to be able to rest. The bedrooms and beds will be very comfortable and much like a nice hotel would provide. You should arrive one hour before the test so that the sleep technicians can prepare you for the test. As you get ready for bed, a sleep technician will attach electrodes to the scalp, chest, and legs. These electrodes measure sleep stages, heart rate, and muscle activity. Finally, after the electrodes are in place, a respiratory sensor is connected underneath your nasal passages.

Depending on which test you are prescribed, you may wear a CPAP, or positive airway pressure mask, while you sleep. The mask fits over your nose and mouth, or just your nose. This mask will provide enough air to keep your airway continuously open while you sleep.

As you go to sleep, a white noise device in the bedroom will block out any noise that may disturb you. Meanwhile a microphone in the room will record snoring, and a camera will allow the sleep technicians to see any unusual sleep activity without disturbing you. You will sleep for at least 6 hours. Although many patients feel they didn’t sleep at all during the test, the results of your study will show you differently. If your sleep is fragmented, as happens with sleep apnea, you will have waking moments during the night and feel that you didn’t sleep. In fact you did sleep, but not well. The sleep technicians will be able to detect the quality of your sleep all night long, in real time.

Data collection happens at the main desk. While you are sleeping, the technicians look for incidences of apnea, snoring, sleep stages, and muscle activity. If it is determined that you have sleep apnea, a CPAP mask will be prescribed for you to use at home. CPAP masks come in a variety of styles and you can choose the one that fits you best. They are easy to put on and compact enough to travel with.

If you have sleep apnea, a CPAP mask will help you have more restorative sleep, feel more energetic during the day, and have a better quality of life. In addition, you’ll reduce your risk of serious health problems associated with sleep apnea. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea and are considering whether or not to get tested, it’s definitely worth your time.