Sleep Studies

Sleep Studies: Sleep studies, also known as polysomnography, are tests used to diagnose sleep disorders by monitoring different body functions while a person sleeps. These studies are usually done in a sleep laboratory or hospital, where the patient spends the night connected to special sensors that record brain activity, breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, eye movements, and muscle activity. Sleep studies are most commonly used to detect problems such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, and other conditions that affect sleep quality.

During the study, the sensors send information to a computer, which allows doctors to analyze how well the patient sleeps, how often they wake up, and whether there are any pauses in breathing or unusual movements. The results help doctors understand the cause of poor sleep and recommend the best treatment, which might include lifestyle changes, breathing devices, medications, or other therapies. Sleep studies are important because untreated sleep problems can affect overall health, leading to issues like daytime fatigue, memory problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. By identifying the problem early, sleep studies can play a key role in improving both sleep quality and long-term health.