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Sleep Test: Types and Importance

The Necessity of a Sleep Test

There are a lot of people who do not really know how important sleep tests are when in fact; there are lots of sleeping disorders that can affect our health and general condition. And the thing is that these sleeping disorders cannot be cured if they are not diagnosed properly.

Some people do not even know that they have sleeping disorders, or if they are feeling something strange, they just opt to ignore it. But with all the possible complications of these sleeping disorders, one thing is for sure: they must not be ignored.

Sleep tests give you and your physician a general overview of what is happening in your body as you sleep. The observations gathered can pinpoint the cause of your sleeping problems. Also, in this manner, some problems regarding sleep cycles can be determined.

Sleeping Problems

Sleep Apnea

During sleep, some people experience a sudden stop of the breathing process for ten seconds or so. This may be caused by narrowing of the airways, or the communication process between the respiratory muscles and the brain.

	Random Sleeping Tip
People have a lot of different positions that they sleep in. The position considered is sleeping on the back where this position allows all the organs to rest properly. You must not sleep on your left side because sleeping on the left side causes the stomach, spleen and lungs to press on your heart, therefore this position must be avoided. If you need to sleep on any side, then you must sleep on the right side. Another position that must be avoided is sleeping on your stomach because this causes pressure on the internal organs especially lungs that results in shallow breathing.

This condition may be tolerable to others for as long as they can bear the noise, but this condition is life-threatening. Sleep apnea can cause more health complications, and may lead to accidents due to daytime sleepiness that it can cause. More so, heart problems can also arise from sleep apnea.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder that targets the brain, causing excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis (inability to move and talk during sleep transitions), hypnagogic hallucinations (seeing dream-like situations during sleep transitions) and cataplexy (muscle tone loss).

Sleepwalking and night terrors

When the normal cycle of sleeping is disturbed, especially during Non-REM sleep, sleepwalking and night terrors are likely to occur.

Insomnias and Periodic Limb Movement disorder

Insomnia and Periodic Limb Movement disorder are related since the latter can cause difficulty in trying to obtain deep sleep.

Insomnia can be classified into initial insomnia (difficulty to catch sleep for 30 minutes), middle insomnia (difficulty to maintain sleep) and terminal insomnia (waking up after getting less than 6 hours of sleep).

This can be caused by a lot of factors to be determined by your physician or sleep therapist.

Hypopnea

This refers to a sudden decrease in breathing rate while sleeping.

Preparing for the Sleep Test

Before undergoing any sleep test, these steps must be followed:

• Keep a sleep diary two weeks prior to scheduled sleep test.
• Follow normal sleeping habits during this period.
• Inform the physician of medications that you are taking.
• Stop taking sedatives before the sleep test.
• Caffeine must be taken out of the diet three days before the sleep test.
• Fill out the information form asking for help from your sleeping companion. He or she knows a lot about your sleeping habits.
• Avoid using gels, perfumes, oils, fake fingernails, polish and the likes on the day of the sleep test since electrodes will be attached to your body parts.
• Be hours early for your sleep test.

Types of sleep tests

Polysomnograph Studies

In this type of sleep test, electrodes (small metal discs) are connected to certain body parts to monitor:

• Eye movement
• Brain's activity
• Heart rate
• Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood
• Snoring
• Body movements
• Air intake
• Muscle contractions
• Breathing rate

Amidst the electrodes that are connected to the body, the test is designed to be comfortable enough so as not to disturb sleeping. At least 6 hours of sleep is needed to get the results.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test

This test will use the same equipment used in polysomnograph test. These two tests will vary in the time required to get the results needed.

In Multiple Sleep Latency Test, patients are asked to take naps every two hours after the nocturnal sleep. The first twenty minutes are allotted for the patient to fall asleep. They are asked to wake up after 15 minutes. Then they are prohibited from sleeping until the next time schedule for napping.

Multiple Wake Test

Using the same equipment in the polysomnograph test, the patient is asked to stay awake without napping during the daytime.

Sleep disorders must be prevented. They must be treated if you already have them. And that first step in doing it is to undergo sleep test. The time is now.

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