Home and In-Lab Sleep Studies
What is a Sleep Study?
A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is used to diagnosis sleep disorders. The goal of a sleep study is to determine what next steps to take in your care. Sleep studies are used to detect a range of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and REM sleep disorder behavior.
At Baptist Health, we make every effort to make your experience in a sleep study welcoming, while collecting vital information to provide you with the best care to help you get better sleep. We use innovative technology and the latest sleep medicine advances to monitor your heart rate, brain activity, breathing and muscle activity during sleep—all to better understand your symptoms and diagnose what’s interrupting your sleep. Use the information below to know what to expect during an in-home or in-lab sleep study.
Home Sleep Study: What to Expect
How Does a Home Sleep Study Work
Home sleep studies are for adults age 18 and older. In a home sleep study, you'll wear portable monitoring devices while you sleep in your own bed.
How Can I Prepare for a Home Sleep Study
- Stick to your normal daily routine as much as possible
- Avoid alcohol
- Don’t nap
- Make sure the doctor is aware of any medications you take regularly
- with the recording devices
In-Lab Sleep Study: What to Expect
How Does an In-Lab Study Work
During an in-lab sleep study at Baptist Health, special technology will be used to record your brain activity, eye movements, heart and breathing rates, muscle movements and more while you sleep. We will use similar technology to conduct daytime studies that monitor your alertness and ability to stay awake. Data from these studies is used to diagnose conditions that may be interrupting your sleep. This data is collected by special electrodes applied to your skin with tape or worn as a belt. You may also wear a heart monitor or breathing monitor. All sensors are linked to monitors that record your body’s activity.
How Can I Prepare for an In-Lab Sleep Study?
Check with the sleep center for any restrictions on what you can bring. In general, treat this stay as you would an overnight at a hotel—and bring the following:
- Any medications you take that have been cleared by your doctor to use at night or in the morning
- Your toiletries
- Pajamas and slippers or non-skid socks
- Your favorite pillows or blankets
- A bedtime snack
- A phone charger
- Reading material
- Something for breakfast
What to Expect for a Pediatric Sleep Study?
Children age six and older are eligible for in-lab sleep studies. Parents will remain with their children throughout the stay. You will want to make sure your child’s hair is washed before arriving, and plan to bring toys, books or a tablet for activities, along with any other items needed for sleep such as a special blanket or stuffed animal.
Sleep Study Results
Sleep study results will usually measure the following:
- Sleep efficiency
This is the measure of the total number of minutes a patient sleeps during a sleep study divided by the total amount of time they were recorded sleeping. So, the higher your sleep efficiency, the more time you spent asleep versus awake.
- Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)
This measures how often a patient experiences sleep apnea or hypopnea, which is partial obstruction. Six or more recorded instance of either sleep apnea or hypopnea will produce a sleep apnea diagnosis.
- Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI)
This is the measure of how often a patient’s oxygen level drops during sleep, resulting in disordered breathing. Normal oxygen levels are above 90%.
- Heart rate
Generally, a normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM). More than this is called tachycardia, and less than this is called bradycardia.
A sleep study will take place in a specially equipped room in our lab. Our providers and staff work to make our patients as comfortable as possible while gathering information on how to support improving their sleep.