28 Oct Polysomnography – What to Expect
What is Polysomnography?
Polysomnography is a sleep study or a test used to diagnose sleep disorders. Your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements during the study, will be recorded and will help us determine if and what your sleeping disorder may be. If you have already been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder, polysomnography may be used to help adjust your treatment plan. It can identify if, when, and why your sleep cycles are disrupted. This sleep study at our Neurologist in Port Jefferson is used to test Sleep Apnea, Parasomnias, Narcolepsy or Chronic Insomnia.
How is a Polysomnogram Conducted?
A polysomnogram can require a minimum of 22 wires attached to the patient. Wires for each channel of recorded data lead from the patient to a computer screen where it displays multiple channels continuously.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a very common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing while you are asleep. It is an ongoing condition that disrupts your sleep resulting in poor quality sleep. As a result, you may find yourself tired throughout the day which is a common sign of sleep apnea.
Other signs are:
Morning headaches
Being unable to concentrate
Memory loss
Experiencing common mood swings or personality changes
Having a sour throat or dry mouth when you wake up
What is Parasomnias?
Parasomnias, which can be treated at our practice, involve abnormal movements, emotions, perceptions, behaviors, and dreams that happen while falling asleep, during sleep, between stages of sleep, or when you are waking up from sleep.
Examples of Parasomnias are:
Sleepwalking
Night terrors
Teeth grinding
Restless leg syndrome
What is Chronic Insomnia?
Insomnia is having the inability to sleep or difficulty falling or staying asleep. Chronic insomnia can last for months, and sometimes years.
Causes of Chronic Insomnia include:
Depression
Anxiety
Constant stress
Pain at night
Discomfort at night
If you have any questions regarding Polysomnography, contact your local neurologist in Port Jefferson today!