Getting quality sleep affects every part of your life, from your energy levels to your overall health.
If you’re struggling with sleep problems, a sleep study might be the key to finding answers and getting the rest you deserve.
To get a sleep study done, you need to start with a consultation with a sleep specialist who will evaluate your symptoms and determine if testing is necessary. The process involves scheduling an appointment, preparing for the study, and spending a night at a sleep center where specialists monitor your sleep patterns.
At Gwinnett Sleep, we guide you through each step to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
We understand that the idea of sleeping in a lab with sensors attached might seem uncomfortable.
However, most patients find the process much easier than expected and appreciate finally getting answers about their sleep troubles.
This guide will walk you through everything from understanding different types of sleep studies to what happens after you receive your results.
Understanding Sleep Studies
Sleep studies help doctors diagnose and treat problems that affect how you sleep at night.
These tests measure your body functions while you sleep and can find conditions like sleep apnea or insomnia.
A sleep study is a test that watches your body while you sleep.
The medical name is polysomnography.
During the test, we attach sensors to your body.
These sensors track:
The test happens overnight at a sleep center.
You sleep in a room that looks like a hotel room.
A technician watches the data from another room.
Some sleep studies can be done at home.
These home sleep tests are simpler.
They mainly check for sleep apnea.
Sleep studies can find many different sleep problems.
Here are the most common ones we test for:
Sleep apnea happens when your breathing stops and starts during sleep.
This is the most common reason for sleep studies.
Insomnia means you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy causes you to fall asleep suddenly during the day.
Restless leg syndrome makes your legs feel uncomfortable.
You feel like you need to move them.
Other conditions include sleep walking and unusual behaviors during sleep.
Your doctor might suggest a sleep study if you have certain symptoms.
The main signs include:
Poor sleep quality can hurt your health.
It can cause high blood pressure and heart problems.
It can also make it hard to focus at work or school.
A sleep study helps find the exact cause of your sleep problems.
Once we know what’s wrong, we can create the right treatment plan for you.
Sleep studies come in four main types, each designed to diagnose specific sleep disorders.
The type your doctor recommends depends on your symptoms, with options ranging from comprehensive overnight testing to specialized daytime evaluations.
An overnight sleep study, also called a polysomnogram or PSG, is the most complete type of sleep test.
This study takes place at a sleep center where you spend the night.
During a PSG, technicians attach small sensors to your head, chest, and legs.
These sensors monitor brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, and breathing patterns.
What the PSG measures:
The sleep center provides a private room with a comfortable bed.
You can bring personal items like pillows or pajamas to help you feel at home.
A technician monitors you throughout the night from a separate room.
They can help if you need to use the bathroom or have questions.
This test diagnoses sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and other complex sleep disorders.
A home sleep apnea test (HSAT) is a simpler version you can do at your house.
This test focuses mainly on detecting sleep apnea.
The HSAT device is smaller than PSG equipment.
You pick it up from the sleep center and return it the next day.
HSAT typically measures:
You wear a small device on your finger and bands around your chest.
Some devices also include a nasal tube to measure airflow.
HSAT works well for people with obvious sleep apnea symptoms.
It costs less than an overnight study and lets you sleep in your own bed.
However, HSAT cannot detect all sleep disorders.
Your doctor might recommend a full PSG if the home test results are unclear.
The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) measures how quickly you fall asleep during the day.
This test helps diagnose narcolepsy and other causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
The MSLT happens the day after an overnight sleep study.
You take five scheduled naps throughout the day, spaced two hours apart.
During each nap opportunity:
The test measures how fast you enter REM sleep during naps.
People with narcolepsy often enter REM sleep very quickly.
Normal results show it takes 10-20 minutes to fall asleep.
Falling asleep in less than 8 minutes suggests a sleep disorder.
You must avoid caffeine and follow specific sleep schedules before this test.
The Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) measures your ability to stay awake during quiet activities.
This test is often required for people in safety-sensitive jobs.
Unlike the MSLT, the MWT tests how well you can fight off sleepiness.
You sit in a comfortable chair in a dimly lit room for 40 minutes.
The test includes four sessions:
During each session, you must try to stay awake without doing stimulating activities.
You cannot exercise, sing, or use bright lights to stay alert.
The MWT helps determine if sleep disorder treatments are working.
Truck drivers, pilots, and other safety workers often need this test before returning to work.
Results show the average time you can stay awake across all four sessions.
Staying awake for at least 19 minutes in each session is considered normal.
Proper preparation helps ensure accurate results from your sleep study.
Key steps include talking with your sleep specialist about medications, avoiding certain substances, and bringing the right items for comfort.
Your sleep specialist will review your medical history and current symptoms before the study.
We recommend discussing any concerns about sleeping in an unfamiliar environment during this consultation.
The specialist will explain what to expect during the night.
They may prescribe sleep medication if you have severe insomnia or anxiety about the test.
Important topics to cover:
If you use a CPAP or other positive airway pressure device, ask whether to bring your own equipment.
Some sleep centers prefer you use their machines for consistency.
Never stop taking medications without talking to your sleep specialist first.
Some drugs can affect sleep patterns and test results, while others are safe to continue.
Medications that often need discussion:
Your doctor may ask you to skip certain medications for one or two nights before the study.
However, stopping some drugs suddenly can be dangerous.
Bring a complete list of all medications and supplements you take
Include the dosage and timing for each one.
This helps the sleep specialist make the best recommendations for your situation.
Certain substances can interfere with your natural sleep patterns.
Avoiding these items helps ensure we get accurate results from your test.
Avoid caffeine after 2 PM on the day of your study.
This includes coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks.
Caffeine can stay in your system for 6-8 hours.
Skip alcohol completely on the day of your study.
Alcohol changes how you sleep and can affect breathing patterns.
If you drink alcohol daily, talk to your doctor about safely reducing intake.
Don’t take naps on the day of your nighttime sleep study.
Napping can make it harder to fall asleep during the test.
Avoid hair products like gel, spray, or oils.
These can interfere with the electrodes that monitor brain activity.
Wash your hair normally but skip styling products.
Pack an overnight bag with items that help you feel comfortable and relaxed.
Bringing familiar items can make the unfamiliar environment feel more like home.
Essential items to pack:
Comfort items we recommend:
The sleep center provides linens and basic amenities.
However, your own pillow and sleepwear can help you sleep more naturally.
If you’re bringing a child for a sleep study, pack comfort items like stuffed animals or favorite toys.
These familiar objects can reduce anxiety and help them sleep better during the test.
A sleep study involves arriving at the facility in the evening, having sensors attached to monitor your body functions, and sleeping while technologists track your brain waves, heart rate, breathing patterns, and oxygen levels throughout the night.
When you arrive at our sleep center, you’ll check in at the front desk between 8:00 and 9:00 PM.
We’ll verify your insurance information and have you complete any remaining paperwork.
Our staff will show you to your private room.
Each room has a comfortable bed, private bathroom, and temperature controls.
You can bring personal items like your pillow or favorite blanket to help you feel more at home.
Items to bring:
We’ll review your medical history and current medications with you.
Our sleep technologist will explain the study process and answer any questions you have about the night ahead.
You should avoid caffeine after 2:00 PM on study day.
Don’t take naps, as this can make it harder to fall asleep during your study.
Our sleep technologist will attach small sensors to your head, face, chest, and legs.
These electrodes are painless and use a special paste to stay in place while you sleep.
EEG electrodes on your scalp measure brain waves to track your sleep stages.
We place sensors near your eyes to monitor eye movements during REM sleep.
Chest bands measure your breathing patterns throughout the night.
A small clip on your finger tracks your oxygen levels and heart rate continuously.
The setup process takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
You can watch TV or read while we attach the sensors.
We’ll test each connection to make sure we get clear signals.
Once everything is connected, you’ll have wires leading to a central monitoring box.
The wires are long enough for you to move around and get comfortable in bed.
After sensor placement, you can go to sleep at your normal bedtime. Our sleep technologist monitors you from a separate room throughout the entire night.
We track multiple body functions simultaneously:
The monitoring equipment records data continuously while you sleep. Our technologist watches for any breathing problems or unusual patterns that might wake you up.
If you need to use the bathroom during the night, just call out or press the call button. We’ll disconnect the sensors temporarily so you can move around safely.
Most patients sleep reasonably well despite the sensors. The study ends around 6:00 AM, and we’ll wake you up to remove all the equipment before you go home.
Your sleep study generates over 1200 pages of data measuring more than 25 different parameters during sleep. This information goes through detailed analysis before you receive results and create a treatment plan with your provider.
The data from your sleep studies requires extensive processing before any results become available. Sleep technicians and specialists analyze brain waves, breathing patterns, heart rate, and body movements recorded throughout the night.
Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks after your sleep apnea test. The analysis identifies sleep stages, breathing interruptions, and other abnormalities that indicate sleep disorders.
Your results will show:
For obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis, we look for specific patterns of airway blockages and oxygen drops. The severity gets classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the AHI score.
Most patients receive a detailed report explaining their sleep test findings. We make sure the results are clear and easy to understand.
Your follow-up appointment typically occurs 1-2 weeks after completing your sleep studies. During this visit, we review your results in detail and explain what the findings mean for your health.
We discuss how your symptoms connect to the test results. If obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep disorders are diagnosed, we explain the condition and its potential health impacts.
Key topics covered include:
You can ask questions about your sleep apnea test results during this appointment. We encourage patients to bring family members who may have witnessed sleep symptoms.
The appointment usually lasts 30-45 minutes. We take time to ensure you understand your diagnosis completely.
Treatment recommendations depend on your specific sleep test results and overall health. For mild obstructive sleep apnea, we might suggest lifestyle changes like weight loss or sleeping position adjustments.
CPAP therapy is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. We help you get fitted for the right mask and machine.
Most insurance plans cover CPAP equipment when medically necessary. Other treatment options include:
We coordinate with your insurance company for equipment approval. CPAP suppliers typically contact you within 2-3 business days after your appointment.
Follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor treatment effectiveness. Most patients see improvement in sleep quality within the first few weeks of treatment.
We provide ongoing support throughout your treatment journey. Our team remains available to address concerns or adjust treatments as needed.
Getting your sleep study results marks the beginning of your journey toward better rest. We help you understand your diagnosis and create a treatment plan that addresses your specific sleep patterns and needs.
We review your sleep study results during a follow-up appointment within a few days of your test. Your sleep physician explains the continuous measurements recorded during your study.
The results show detailed information about your brain waves, breathing patterns, and body movements throughout the night. We identify specific sleep disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome.
Common findings include:
We explain how these findings affect your daily life. Poor sleep quality often causes concentration problems, mood changes, and health issues.
Your diagnosis helps us understand why you feel tired during the day. We connect your symptoms to specific sleep pattern disruptions found in your study.
We recommend treatments based on your specific diagnosis and sleep study results. Positive airway pressure therapy works well for sleep apnea patients.
CPAP machines deliver steady air pressure through a mask while you sleep. This keeps your airway open and prevents breathing interruptions.
Treatment Type Condition Effectiveness
CPAP/BiPAP Sleep Apnea 85-95% success rate
Sleep Medications Insomnia 60-70% improvement
Lifestyle Changes All disorders 40-60% improvement
We also suggest lifestyle changes to improve your sleep quality. Going to bed at the same time each night helps regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Key adjustments include:
Some patients need oral appliances or surgery for severe cases. We discuss all options based on your comfort level and medical needs.
We schedule regular follow-up appointments to track your progress. Most patients see improvements in sleep quality within 2-4 weeks of starting treatment.
You keep a sleep diary to record how you feel each morning. We review this information to see if treatments are working effectively.
We monitor:
CPAP users download data from their machines during visits. This shows us how well the positive airway pressure therapy is working.
We adjust treatment settings if needed. Some patients require different pressure levels or mask styles for better comfort.
Follow-up sleep studies may be necessary after six months. These tests confirm that your sleep patterns have improved with treatment.
Navigating sleep issues can be overwhelming, but the path to answers doesn’t have to be. Understanding how to get a sleep study done is the first step toward reclaiming the rest and vitality you deserve. Whether your symptoms point to sleep apnea, insomnia, or another condition, a professionally guided sleep study offers the clarity needed to take control of your sleep health. With expert support, comfortable facilities, and detailed diagnostics, you’re not just checking a box—you’re investing in a better, healthier future.
If you’ve been battling poor sleep, fatigue, or symptoms like snoring or restless nights, Gwinnett Sleep is ready to help. Our board-certified team provides comprehensive in-lab and home sleep study options tailored to your needs. Call 770‑995‑1555 or book your appointment online today—because quality sleep shouldn’t be a luxury.
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