Understanding Polysomnography – Unlocking the secrets of your sleep
Polysomnography – what does it measure?
Diagnosing sleep disorders is a constant challenge, and doctors frequently use a PSG test to understand the problem. This is a type of sleep study designed to provide insight into the type of sleep problem you are having.
Polysomnography is designed to offer a firm diagnosis for disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea. It can also offer insight into more complex sleep disorders, allowing doctors to make informed decisions about treatments or other tests that may be necessary.
A polysomnography sleep test, or PSG, measures several factors during sleep, specifically:
- Breathing airflow
- Body position
- Brain activity
- Electrocardiogram
- Eye movement
- Muscle activity
- Oxygen saturation
- Respiratory effort
- Sound such as snoring or heavy breathing
Your level 1 PSG would be performed in a hospital or sleep clinic to test for all these things. This would mean an overnight stay, and the tests are administered by a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.
A level 2 polysomnography sleep study is a little less comprehensive. It doesn’t test for muscle activity, record sounds, or measure body position. However, this means it requires less equipment and can be carried out at home. For some sleep disorders, this level 2 test is enough to help doctors understand the problem. Testing at home is less stressful, so it is often preferred unless a more detailed option is necessary.
Which disorders can a polysomnography test diagnose?
A polysomnography sleep test can diagnose several sleep disorders including:
- Idiopathic Hypersomnia
- Narcolepsy
- PLMD
- REM behaviour Disorder
- Sleep Apnoea
In addition, these sleep studies can provide valuable information that can help diagnose other issues. For instance, polysomnography is often used to diagnose any circadian sleep disorder. It doesn’t offer a definitive diagnosis for these conditions but does rule out other disorders with similar symptoms.
Along the same lines, a polysomnography sleep test provides valuable information about your sleep that can highlight potential issues. In this way, it can be used to identify many issues you may be facing.
What are the disadvantages of polysomnography?
The most obvious downside of the PSG sleep test is that it is simple. To carry it out, you must be connected to numerous monitoring devices. In level 1 tests, you will also sleep in an unfamiliar room, with a camera recording everything. This can be an uncomfortable experience for you as a patient. It is unlike your normal sleep situation, which can affect the accuracy of the data.
In addition, if you need a level 1 PSG test, you must attend a sleep clinic or appropriate hospital environment. Because you need to spend the night in the facility, if you have to travel to the facility, it could be two days out of your life to take the test, which may also be impractical.
How can I prepare for a sleep study?
The key to getting accurate and useful data from your polysomnography is to keep your routine as normal as possible. That means eating when you usually do, drinking what you normally drink in the evening and so on. You may be asked to avoid any food or drink with caffeine, though, if so, follow the instructions. If you are taking a home sleep study, this is relatively easy. But if you have to visit a sleep clinic, keep your routine anyway. That includes any medication you usually take.
To ensure the equipment works properly, avoid using moisturisers or oil-based products. Instead, shower, wash your hair, and get ready for bed. This will ensure good adhesion to the electronic equipment.
Other than that, try to stay as relaxed as possible. It can be challenging, but your normal sleep routine is what the PSG should measure. Try to keep everything as routine as possible.
How are the test results interpreted?
The polysomnography sleep test will produce useful data about your sleep experience. Your polysomnography technologist will evaluate the test first. They will accurately chart the stages and cycles of your sleep. After that, the results will be passed to your doctor or sleep specialist for further analysis.
They will look for changes in blood oxygen, heart rate, and breathing rate, which indicate possible sleep apnea. Signs of eye movement or brainwave change suggest disruption of sleep cycles, which can be a sign of narcolepsy or other REM sleep disorders.
Because there is a lot of analysis, it may take up to three weeks to complete. Once it is done, your doctor will arrange an appointment to discuss it with you. From there, a new treatment plan will be created to help you address the problem.
Conclusion
This sleep test is advantageous as a comprehensive approach to diagnosing sleep disorders. It can provide a definite diagnosis of some sleep disorders and rule out others. This way, doctors can better understand your sleep problem and the underlying cause.
While polysomnography at home is relatively straightforward, Level 1 tests at a sleep clinic or hospital require more. Staying in unfamiliar surroundings can be unnerving. The challenge here is to maintain your normal routine under testing. This will highlight your sleep issues and help you find solutions.
With the amount of data collected, the polysomnography sleep test is key to unlocking your sleep problems.