If you are not sleeping well, or find yourself continually tired during the day, your attempt to correct the condition, by taking a pill or heaving your mattress might not necessarily help.
The situations that interrupt sleep emerge within the body itself, hence they can be identified only by a sleep physician with the help of a diagnostic sleep study test.
Additionally, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder that needs to be discussed with a sleep physician on priority. Since the problem is related to shortness of breath or snoring, it is a good idea to take your sleep partner who has noticed you with periods of apnea (obstructed breathing) for sleep study or sleep apnea test.
Some of these tests are performed with take-home equipments, while others are performed in sleep labs. Obviously, the studies that took place in labs are more comprehensive and detailed than their take-home counterparts.
Now, when your doctor recommends you to undergo a sleep study test, what should you expect? Even though you will feel anxious, we want you to take a few moments to read on and lay those fears to rest.
Why go for sleep study test?
Since now, your sleep has been a mystery to you; you are not sure why you are not sleeping well or feel restless during the day time. A thorough sleep study test will reveal all the secrets about what exactly happens when you sleep. The data recorded during the session will help your physician detect the cause of your sleep problem so that he can take steps to improve.
Before you go on a sleep study test
What Will Happen At the Sleep Center?
You will be asked to arrive at the sleep center at a definite time in the evening for polysomnography test. A technologist will lead you to the room and show you the equipment on which the sleep study test has to be performed. You are free to discuss any recent sleep changes and problems with the sleep expert guiding you. You may also be required to fill few papers at this point of time. You can then, change into your night clothes and make yourself feel as comfortable as in the bedroom at your home.
None of these equipments are painful. They are designed to be as comfortable as possible.
After everything is fixed up, you will perform a test to make sure everything is in working order. You can even start by reading a book or watching Television until you feel sleepy. Lights are then turned off and you can go to sleep.
The technologist will monitor your sleep all night long in the nearby room with computers and equipments. A low-light camera may also be used to record your sleep for later review. This will also allow your doctor to see any unusual movements or behavior that may occur in your body when you are asleep.
Excuses for not Treating OSA
One common misconception we all have regarding our health is that a lack of symptoms means an absence of disease. This is especially true with sleep apnea. Often dubbed as the silent killer, sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can deteriorate your health from a seemingly harmless snoring to graver conditions like diabetes and heart attack.Sleep Apnea - A risk factor for Sudden Cardiac death
According to a major study, Sleep Apnea plays a major role in the aggravation of cardiac problems, and can lead to sudden cardiac deaths too. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused due to complete or partial obstacles in the air passage. The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, falling short of breath in sleep, feeling drowsy in the morning, high blood pressure, morning headaches and experiencing mood swings.Can Snoring be a Sleep problem?
If you do not snore, you are likely to know someone who does. There are about 45% of adults who snore and the percentage will keep on rising, as they age.