Sleep represents more than one third of our life. Sufficient sleep is essential and important for growth, cerebral maturation and mental functions. Good sleep leads to a good physical and psychological condition. A reduction in sleep time may cause weight gain and increased vascular risks.
Sleep is very important for people that have pain, as it is at night during sleeping when the body repairs. Also for day to day function the body requires an optimal eight hours sleep. Stress chemicals make sleep difficult, especially deep restorative sleep, so we need to become calmer about our problems.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where patients have an abnormal breathing pattern during sleep i.e. they pause during breathing or breathing gets very shallow. Breathing pauses last between 10 to 20 seconds or more. Apnea causes sleep disruption as a result of reduced oxygen level in the blood.
POLYSOMNOGRAPHY (SLEEP STUDY)
WHEN AND WHY ?
- Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterised by:
- Reduced or absent consciousness
- Relatively suspended sensory activity
- Inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles
Polysomnography (the test result is called polysomnogram) and also known as sleep study is a:
- Multi-parametric test used in the study of sleep and as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine
- Comprehensive recording of the biophysiological changes that occur during sleep
Monitored Parameters
- EEG
- Electrocardiography
- EOG : eye movements
- Pulse oximetry
- Respiratory effort (thoracic and abdominal)
- Sound recordings to measure snoring
- Surface EMG monitoring of limb muscles (to detect limb movements, periodic or other)
- Continuous video monitoring
Polysomnography is used to diagnose, or rule out, many types of sleep disorders including:
- Sleep apnea
- Narcolepsy
- Periodic limb movement disorder such as restless legs syndrome
- REM behaviour disorder
- Parasomnias
Polysomnography is often ordered for patients with complaints of daytime fatigue or sleepiness that may be caused by interrupted sleep.
Sleep Lab Test
