What is a Sleep Study?
A sleep study is also known as “polysomnography“. It is an all-inclusive test that is used to diagnose sleep disorders. Polysomnography registers neural waves, levels of oxygen in the blood, pulse rate, and breathing rate. It also records eye and limb movement.
A patient can undergo polysomnography at any sleep disorder center within a hospital’s vicinity. Sleep study test is customarily performed at night hours but can be done periodically during day hours to adjust those sleep workers who usually sleep during the daytime.
Additionally, polysomnography not only helps in diagnosing sleep disorders but also aids in formulating a treatment plan. A sleep specialist in Oakland country can make a subsequent treatment plan for a patient diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
At times, you can conduct a sleep study at home efficiently. For that purpose, you can use “home sleep apnea testing”. It came with limited sensors and keenly emphasized the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Why Should You Take a Sleep Test?
Polysomnography records the sleep phases and helps in determining your disrupted sleep pattern. Various home sleep apnea test devices are available and can be used in different combinations with variegated sensors. The purpose of these devices is to track your breathing, heart, and oxygen levels. Some advanced devices also record the tone of blood vessels.
REM & NREM Sleep:
The regular sleep process starts with the sleep phase known as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. In this phase, neural waves from the brain are gradually traced by electroencephalography (EEG).
Usually, human eyes do not move in a to and for moving quickly during NREM, in contrast to the remaining sleep phases. One or two hours later of NREM sleep, the brain starts to gather its activity again, and rapid eye movement (REM) starts. Most of the time, dreaming occurs in deep REM sleep.
A person undergoes several sleep cycles at night, swinging between NREM and REM sleep for about 80 to 90 minutes. Sleep disorders impart a negative effect on this sleep cycle.
Your medical provider will suggest you get polysomnography if you may have the following;
- Sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing disorder
- Non-frequent limb movement disorder
- Narcolepsy
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Disturbing behaviors during sleep
- Prolong chronic insomnia
Top 3 Reasons to Undergo a Sleep Disorder
Working individuals can be unsure or non-acknowledged about the hazardous outcomes of sleep disorders. The following are the top three reasons to take a sleep study test before it’s too late to be cured.
Your Health Deserves a Sleep Study
During sleep, our brains replenish themselves as well as our body parts. Sleep hours are the rejuvenating hours for our brains and body – muscles and tissues. There is no doubt in the fact that good sleep imparts quality effects on your health. Good sleep also helps in the hormone regulation essential for the body’s linear growth and development.
Losing a few hours of sleep might not appear to be a huge deal for you however it can be daunting in the longer run. Here are some key risks that can be hazardous if you leave your sleep disorders untreated.
- Extensive daytime sleepiness
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Irregular heartbeat
- Diabetes
- Increased risk of accidents
- Morning headaches
These are only the probable risks. Sleep disorders can also affect your mental health and can include the following.
- Depression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
To Help Your Bed Partner Sleep Soundly at Night
Sleep disorders do not just make you suffer, but also those who sleep next to you. Many people might not know it, but their sleep irregularities plague others’ sleep as well. Many sleep disorders present signs and symptoms that hinder your partner’s sleep, affecting their mood and health, some of which include:
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
If you snore loudly and regularly at night, you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which there is either partial or complete airway blockage due to the collapse of the tissues at the back of the throat.
In OSA, the symptoms are more often noticed by the patient’s bed partner rather than the patient. The clinical signs include
- snoring
- fatigue during the day
- uneasiness during sleep
- choking or gasping for air in sleep
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Headache
Amongst its various symptoms, it is snoring which might render your sleep partner sleepless. Furthermore, if/when you choke or gasp for air, you scare your partner as they worry for your health.
2. Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD):
As the name indicates, RLS, another sleep disorder is characterized by an intense, uncomfortable sensation in the legs. In RLS, you may experience sensations that can be defined as tingling, extending, or aching. It may be partially or completely relieved by stretching the leg.
People who suffer from RLS continuously move their legs during the night, which adds to their partner’s discomfort. The body movements might jolt them awake from their slumber or might prevent them from falling asleep.
3. Bruxism:
Bruxism is a sleep disorder characterized by grinding teeth or clenching jaws tightly during the night. The activity produces noise that may stir the other person from their sleep,
4. Parasomnia:
Parasomnia includes conditions like sleepwalking, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep talking, and night terrors. The disorder can force you to behave unusually at night which can startle the other person.
It is Worth the Cost
Many people would avoid treating their sleep disorders due to the high medical costs associated with them. The same is the case with sleep studies, which can be burdensome on one’s budget.
However, with the rise in the prevalence of sleep disorders, many insurance companies are now acknowledging it as a considerable health issue. As a result, such institutions are also accommodating sleep studies under fairly coverage cost.
If you suffer from any sleep disorder, we suggest looking into whether your insurance plans cover the cost of a sleep study. Who knows, you might find out how affordable the treatment is for you.
Cost of a Sleep Study
There are two types of sleep studies; in-clinic sleep tests (polysomnography) and home sleep tests (HST). Home sleep studies are about one-third of the cost of polysomnography and are an affordable alternative to polysomnography.
However, many physicians do not recommend home sleep study due to its limited approach, after which you would have to go for polysomnography.
In all honesty, we would recommend you overlook the cost and opt for an in-clinic sleep study for the sake of you and your loved ones. Sleep studies have presented a high rate of success for patients who were previously diagnosed with sleep disorders. Such patients, within a short period, have reported better sleeping routines and also experienced better productivity the next day.
Conclusion
Despite its cost, an in-clinic sleep study can be your go-to approach to improving your quality of life. So if you are amongst those who suffer each night and subject your partner to just the same, it’s time to make a decision. Visit the best lungnsleep disorder center and take the first step toward a good night’s sleep.
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