Sleep Study: Should You Get One?

Sleep is essential for our health and well-being. However, in today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook its importance and sacrifice our sleep. Research shows that more than 50 million people in the US suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and about 70 million Americans have sleep problems. If you suspect that you may be one of them, a sleep study could be beneficial.

A sleep study is a diagnostic test that tracks and records multiple body systems while you sleep, including your brain, heart, breathing, and more. It can help diagnose various sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, hypersomnia, parasomnias, insomnia, and periodic limb movement disorder. The test is typically conducted overnight in a sleep lab, but home sleep studies are also an option.

If you're experiencing symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, frequent awakenings, difficulty concentrating, or unusual sleep behaviors, a sleep study may be recommended by your doctor. This fact-finding mission can help pinpoint the exact type of sleep disorder you're experiencing and guide your treatment plan to improve your sleep quality and overall health.

Sleep study types: in-lab vs at-home

Sleep studies are diagnostic tests that track and record the activity of multiple body systems, including the heart, brain, and respiratory system, to give healthcare providers a comprehensive view of the quality of your sleep. There are two types of sleep studies: in-lab and at-home.

In-Lab Sleep Study

In-lab sleep studies, also known as polysomnograms, are conducted in a laboratory overnight. A sleep specialist will connect painless sensors to different parts of your body to monitor your sleep. These sensors track brain activity, eye and muscle movements, and airflow through your nose and mouth. The data collected allows providers to evaluate sleep stages and their sequence and identify any sleep disorders or issues. In-lab sleep studies are more comprehensive and can diagnose a wider range of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, seizures, night terrors, and sleepwalking.

At-Home Sleep Study

At-home sleep studies are often the first option and use a small portable device to help diagnose sleep apnea. These studies typically involve sensors that detect breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and chest and belly movements associated with breathing. At-home studies are more simplified, cost-effective, and comfortable, allowing you to sleep in your own environment. However, they do not capture all the signals monitored in an overnight sleep study, and the results may be affected by factors such as sensors falling off during the test.

The choice between an in-lab and at-home sleep study depends on your specific needs and circumstances. In-lab studies are more comprehensive and suitable for diagnosing a wider range of sleep disorders, while at-home studies are often sufficient for evaluating sleep apnea and provide the comfort of your own home environment.

Sleep study procedure

A sleep study, formally known as a polysomnogram, is a diagnostic test that involves recording multiple systems in your body while you sleep. The key body systems monitored include your brain, heart, and breathing. This test is not painful and usually takes one night to complete.

Before the sleep study:

A healthcare provider, usually a pulmonologist or a sleep medicine specialist, will recommend a sleep study based on your symptoms and health history. They will then provide you with options for sleep labs in your area and help you schedule an appointment. The scheduled time for your sleep study will depend on your regular sleep habits, preferences, schedule, and circumstances. It is recommended that you schedule your study at a time when you are normally sleeping.

Preparing for the sleep study:

• Follow your provider's guidelines on bathing and grooming. It is generally recommended to bathe or shower beforehand but avoid using creams, lotions, or hair care products afterward.
• Pack for your overnight stay, just like you would for a hotel. Bring a toothbrush, pajamas or sleepwear, clothes for the next day, and any other hygiene or personal grooming items you may need.
• Take your medications as usual unless your provider instructs otherwise.
• Inform your healthcare provider about any skin allergies you may have, as some adhesives used with the sensors can cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

On the day of the sleep study:

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol for at least eight hours before your sleep study.
• Avoid taking naps during the day.
• Stick to your daily routine as best as you can.

During the sleep study:

After arriving at the sleep lab, you will be escorted to your room, where you will change into your sleepwear. The staff will then attach sensors to various parts of your body to monitor your sleep. These sensors will either have adhesive or need tape to attach them. After calibrating the sensors, you can relax and watch TV or read before going to sleep.

After the sleep study:

In the morning, the sleep lab personnel will help disconnect and remove the sensors. You can then change into your clothes and leave the sleep lab. A healthcare provider will review and interpret the data collected during the study, which may take a few days to a couple of weeks. They will then contact you to discuss the results and recommend further steps or treatment options.

Sleep study results

Sleep studies are diagnostic tests that track and record the activity of multiple body systems, including the heart, brain, and respiratory system, to provide healthcare providers with a comprehensive view of the quality of your sleep. The results of a sleep study can help diagnose various sleep disorders and conditions, such as sleep apnea, hypersomnia, parasomnias, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome. Here is an overview of what to expect from sleep study results and their potential benefits:

Understanding Sleep Study Results:

• Quality of Sleep: Sleep studies evaluate the quality of your sleep by assessing sleep stages, sleep continuity, and sleep architecture. This includes measuring the time spent in light sleep versus deep sleep, the presence of early onset Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, and the number of arousals or awakenings.
• Breathing and Heart Health: Sleep studies monitor your breathing patterns, including airflow and respiratory effort. This data helps identify breathing abnormalities and their impact on oxygen levels, cardiac function, and sleep quality. The severity of sleep apnea, for example, can be determined by metrics such as the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which calculates the average number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep.
• Brain Activity: Sleep studies record electrical activity in the brain using electroencephalography (EEG). This information helps identify disorders related to brain function, such as early onset REM sleep, which may indicate sleepiness and alertness issues.
• Eye and Muscle Movements: Eye movements are tracked using electro-oculography (EOG), which can help detect abnormalities like rapid eye movements during sleep (REM). Muscle movements are monitored using electromyography (EMG) to identify conditions such as periodic limb movement disorder or restless legs syndrome.
• Oxygen Levels: Sleep studies measure blood oxygen levels, indicating whether you are receiving sufficient oxygen during sleep. Repeated drops in oxygen saturation levels may signify breathing abnormalities associated with sleep apnea or other respiratory issues.

Benefits of Sleep Study Results:

• Accurate Diagnosis: Sleep study results provide an objective assessment of your sleep patterns, enabling healthcare providers to accurately diagnose sleep disorders and rule out other potential issues.
• Personalized Treatment Plans: The data from a sleep study helps develop tailored treatment plans. For example, understanding the severity and type of sleep apnea can guide the selection of appropriate treatments, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or other interventions.
• Improved Sleep Quality: With accurate diagnoses and effective treatments, sleep studies can ultimately improve your sleep quality. This can lead to enhanced physical and mental health outcomes, as adequate sleep is crucial for optimal brain and body function.

Sleep study benefits

Sleep studies are diagnostic tests that can help identify and treat a variety of sleep disorders. They are common, with over 800,000 sleep studies performed in 2014 on people with Medicare alone. Sleep studies are painless and typically take place over a single night in a sleep lab.

Benefits of Sleep Studies

Diagnose Sleep Disorders

Sleep studies can help diagnose various sleep disorders, including:

• Sleep apnea
• Periodic limb movement disorder (including restless legs syndrome)
• Certain types of seizures and epilepsy
• Night terrors
• Nocturnal panic attacks
• Sleepwalking or other sleep behaviour-related disorders
• Other types of parasomnias and disruptive sleep disorders

Evaluate Sleep Quality

Sleep studies can evaluate the quality of your sleep by tracking multiple body systems, including your brain, heart, and respiratory system. This information can help healthcare providers understand your unique sleep patterns, such as how much time you spend in light and deep sleep stages, whether you're receiving enough oxygen, and how often you awaken.

Guide Treatment Options

An accurate diagnosis from a sleep study can ensure you receive the appropriate therapy to improve your sleep. Treatment options may include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
• Melatonin supplements
• Sleep medicines
• Light therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy

Improve Overall Health and Well-being

Sleep is essential for optimal brain and body function. Chronic lack of sleep can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues. By addressing sleep disorders and improving sleep quality, sleep studies can help reduce the risk of decreased mental performance, high blood pressure, heart disease, and impaired cell repair and infection-fighting abilities.

Sleep study costs

Sleep studies are usually covered by insurance if they are deemed medically necessary. The cost of a sleep study can vary depending on the location and type of study. Out-of-pocket expenses for a sleep study can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

The cost of a sleep study can range from less than $500 to more than $10,000, depending on insurance coverage as well as whether it is an in-lab or at-home study. In-lab sleep studies are more expensive than at-home sleep studies because they take place overnight in a lab with technicians on hand. The average price of an in-lab sleep study is $3,000, with prices ranging from $1,000 to over $10,000, depending on insurance coverage. At-home sleep studies can range from $150 to around $1,000 or more.

Medicare covers 80% of the cost of medically necessary sleep studies and PAP titration after the deductible is met, including in a hospital or an approved sleep clinic. To qualify for coverage, a person must have a doctor's referral for testing based on symptoms of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or a parasomnia. Medicaid coverage is similar, and both programs also cover at-home sleep studies for suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Private insurance providers may require an at-home test before approving a sleep study at a lab. Before booking a sleep study, it is important to confirm that the chosen center is covered by your insurance plan. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover sleep studies, you may be able to save money by purchasing refurbished or used sleep study equipment online, but there is a risk of getting faulty equipment.

Frequently asked questions