Sleep Studies: What To Think About

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What To Think About

• Sleep studies may be done when symptoms of a sleep problem have lasted at least 6 months. Many health conditions can cause abnormal sleep. These include restless legs syndrome, obesity, heart or respiratory diseases, hypothyroidism, depression, and neuromuscular diseases (such as Parkinson's disease).
• A second polysomnographic study may be needed if you were unable to sleep long enough for the test. Also, after your sleep problem has been identified, you may need a second study if your doctor orders treatment such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
• A split night study is another type of sleep study. During the first half of the night, you are checked for sleep apnea; during the second half of the night, your apnea is treated with breathing aids (such as CPAP) to open your blocked airway.
• Portable sleep study equipment is available for a person to do sleep studies at home. This may be a choice for people who have problems sleeping in a sleep lab. However, home sleep studies may not give the same results as a sleep lab.
• In rare cases, a pH test may be done during a sleep study to see if there is reflux of stomach juices into the esophagus. For a pH test, a small wire is placed in the nose and guided to the lower part of the esophagus.

Last updated:	July 13, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC