What is Sleep Study Test?

A lot of us don’t get enough sleep daily. The reason behind it is our lack of proper diet and routine. There are many more reasons, and different people have different kinds of problems which don’t let them sleep very well. When we do not get enough sleep, our bodies should not function the way they should.

Over time, a bad sleeping routine can create more serious problems such as sleeping disorders. That is why doctors came up with an idea. The idea is called a sleep study test. A person is taken as the test subject for one night, and the quality of their sleep is tested. The results then provide these people with the proper diagnosis of their problems.

But there is no one single type of sleep study test. There are majorly five kinds of sleep study tests mentioned below: 

1. Polysomnogram  

Polysomnogram (PSG) is a tool used for determining the diagnosis that is required for the patient. The test is conducted overnight at a hospital where the machine is placed. The test monitors the patients sleeping pattern and cycles through different hours. The patient will be connected with a variety of different types of equipment to track how they sleep and record these things accurately – 

            A) Brain activity

            B) Muscle activity

            C) Breathing activity

2. Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) 

This test is conducted for people who face excessive sleepiness during the daytime. Measurements are taken in a quiet environment for how fast the patient falls asleep in the daytime. This test aims to diagnose problems such as idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy. During the test, five naps are scheduled, which are each two hours apart.

During the scheduled test, the patient has to lie in bed quietly. Even when the patient is not feeling sleepy, they have to keep lying in bed. The time will be measured for how fast it takes for the patient to fall asleep. As soon as the patient falls asleep, a timer for 15 minutes is started, and when it ends, the patient should be woken up. If the patient doesn’t fall asleep within the first 20 minutes, then the test is finished. 

3. CPAP Titration 

This test is only prescribed to treat sleep disorders such as Obstructive sleep apnea, Central sleep apnea, Hypoventilation. CPAP Titration study is conducted in a laboratory overnight. The main aim of the test is to study the way the subject is breathing. More specifically, it is conducted to study the air pressure that is required so that the upper airway doesn’t block. For this test, the following are measured: Breathing pattern, Heart rate, oxygen level, brain waves, arm and leg movements. 

4. Split Night Study 

Patients suffering from severe OSA are studied with the use of this test. This study is special because it analyzes and diagnoses OSA and titrates CPAP in one night. This saves a lot of time. During the examination, in the first part of the night, polysomnography is performed and the rest of the night is followed up with CPAP titration. The split night study helps in recording the patient’s PAP settings during the night of the test without requiring them to come back some other night. 

6. Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) 

While most of the tests compel or encourage their test subjects to fall asleep. During this test, the patient is asked to stay awake through the periodic trials. The test goes on for a full day. The test measures the alertness that the patient shows during the day.

It also measures that if they can stay awake for some time and be calm, and quite as well. In this test, there are minimum two and a maximum of four trials, each forty minutes long. The test subject has to stay awake during the whole day, and when the trial session starts, they are asked to remain in a calm and quiet environment. 

Conclusion

All of these are sleep study tests aimed for measuring and diagnosing specific problems. Some tests won’t work on diagnosing some problems, which is why it is imperative to determine which kind of test is required for what symptoms.