What is sleep study?

A sleep study is a diagnostic procedure that is used to identify whether or not a patient has sleep apnea or some other sleep disorder. It is used to investigate complaints about daytime sleepiness, non restoring sleep, snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia and other sleep related disorders. 

What a sleep study monitors is-

• Breathing activity.
• Oxygen level.
• Brain activity.
• Muscle activity.
• Pulse.
• Heart Rate.
• Amount of snoring or Sleep apnea(If any)
• Any abnormal limb movement.
• Position in which maximum sleep apnea occurs.
• Sleep related other disorders like narcolepsy, sleep seizure.

Types of Sleep Study:

For any sleep related problem, diagnosis is made by these studies-

• Polysomnogram or PSG
• Multiple sleep latency test, or MSLT
• Maintenance of wakefulness test, or MWT
• Home-based portable monitor  

How sleep study or Polysonogram is done?

For a sleep study a patient has to spend a night at sleep lab. Before patient goes to sleep, they are hooked up with a number of electrodes and these monitor various things during sleep. These sensors monitor brain waves, breathing, movements, oxygen levels and some other things. The patient leaves in the morning and will get the results after few days. Currently home sleep study is possible.  It involves a device that is worn at home to monitor breathing, oxygen level, pulse etc during sleep at home. If anyone wants home sleep study then a home sleep study device should be ordered. The provider will set up tutorials and give instructions on how to apply the home sleep apnea sensors. After the final night of having the test, everything should be returned to the sender or your physician’s office. After that you sleep test will be scored and interpreted by your sleep medicine team.    

Which level of sleep study should be selected and why? 

Level 4:
Level 4 sleep study contains sleep apnea screening with oximetry.It measures blood oxygen level and heart rate as well. 

Who should take level 4 sleep study:
Level 4 sleep study is suggested to the patients who are suspected to have Pediatric Sleep Disorder. It’s a screening test and used in patients who do not need conventional sleep study, in pediatric population or where we intend to check overnight oxygen level only. 

Level 3 :
Level 3 is conducted at home. While you are asleep the sensors monitor the oxygen level, heart rate, airflow, snoring and other parameters.

Who should take level 3 sleep study?
Patients who are suffering or sure that they have sleep apnea. Those who are suspected to be suffering from sleep apnea based on history and clinical examination. 
Patient who are not having medical disorders or whose symptoms are subtle.
It’s very popular among physician and dentists for screening their patients

Level 2:
Level 2 can also conducted at your home. Level 2 sleep study includes monitoring breathing activity, oxygen levels, heart rate, brain and muscle activity. 

Who should take level 2 sleep study?
If you are at risk of sleep apnea and not be sure about the cause then level 2 sleep study is suggested. Patients who are very symptomatic of having sleep apnea like loud snorers, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms and who do not want to go to a lab because if any reach can undergo this study.

Level 1:
Level 1 is conducted at sleep lab only. It is just like level 2, except for level 1 is conducted at sleep lab and is always monitored in real time by a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. 

Who should take level 1 sleep study?
Like Level 2 those who are unsure about the cause of poor sleep are suggested to take level 1 sleep study. 

Those who have the following conditions:

• Symptomatic patients
• Obesity with symptoms
• Parasomnia.
• Medical co morbid conditions etc