Sleep Disorders Evaluation And Study Specialist

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders refer to changes or disruptions in the normal pattern of sleep. Because sleep plays an integral role in maintaining overall health and wellness, disruptions in sleep patterns and habits can have far-reaching effects, including increasing your risks for heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. It can also affect your productivity at work or school, make you more prone to serious accidents including car accidents, and take a toll on your personal relationships.

What is a sleep study?

Also called a polysomnogram (PSG), a sleep study uses highly-sensitive electronic equipment to monitor you while you sleep, measuring your brain and physical activity, your heartbeat, your breathing patterns and your eye movements to determine how well you sleep, how much time is spent in deep sleep, how often your sleep is interrupted by breathing problems and other issues that can have a direct effect on your quality of sleep and your levels of daytime sleepiness. Several types of sleep studies are available depending on the symptoms you're experiencing and your overall health, including specialized tests for narcolepsy and sleep apnea.

What should I expect during a sleep study?

The sleep study will be conducted in a sleep center set up with a private bedroom to help simulate your natural sleeping environment. The bedroom will be equipped with special monitoring equipment so your sleep can be assessed throughout the night. Before going to sleep, a series of electrodes will be placed on your face, scalp and body. These electrodes send information regarding your brain and muscle activity as you sleep. You'll also wear special belts around your midsection to measure respiration, and a small device on your finger to measure blood oxygen levels. Once the test is complete, all the data will be evaluated to determine if you have a sleep disorder.