Polysomnography

There are two types of sleep: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep. Under normal circumstances, your muscles, except for your eyes and breathing muscles, do not move during this stage of sleep. Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. NREM sleep is divided into three stages that can be…

Whether the test is at a sleep study center or at home, you prepare the same way. Unless directed to do so by your sleep specialist, do not take any sleep medicine and do not drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages before the test. They can interfere with your sleep.

The test helps diagnose possible sleep disorders , including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Your health care provider may think you have OSA because you have these symptoms: Daytime sleepiness (falling asleep during the day) Loud snoring Periods of holding your breath while you sleep, followed by gasps or snorts…

A sleep study tracks: How often you stop breathing for at least 10 seconds (called apnea) How often your breathing is partly blocked for 10 seconds (called hypopnea) Your efforts to breathe Your brain waves and muscle movements during sleep Most people have short periods during sleep where their breathing stops or is…

In adults, an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 5 per hour or above may mean you have sleep apnea: 5 to 14 is mild sleep apnea. 15 to 29 is moderate sleep apnea. 30 or more is severe sleep apnea. To make a diagnosis and decide on treatment, your sleep specialist must also look at: Other findings from the sleep study Your…

Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101. Kirk V, Baughn J, D'Andrea L, et al. American Academy of Sleep Medicine position paper for the use of a home sleep apnea…