Understanding the Importance of Sleep Studies

Many people dislike the idea of undergoing a sleep test, also known as a sleep study. After all, the prospect of packing up your pajamas just to spend the night in a laboratory is simply not appealing! However, the experience might be easier than you anticipate. Plus, sleep studies are extremely important. Continue reading below to learn more about the value of this diagnostic process.

What Is a Sleep Study?

During a sleep study, advanced devices monitor you while you sleep in order to collect data about the quality of your rest. There are two main categories of sleep studies:

• With an at-home sleep study, you borrow a monitoring device from a doctor. You use it as directed, then return it the following day so a qualified physician can review your results. At-home sleep studies are often an adequate means of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Laboratory sleep studies use more advanced devices and record more detailed data. They can help to diagnose OSA and a number of other sleep disorders, including some forms of hypersomnia and parasomnia.

The Importance of Sleep Studies

Granted, your doctor or sleep dentist can get a fair idea of whether you have OSA simply by learning about your symptoms. However, sleep studies are still important for a few reasons:

• Symptoms can be deceiving. Even if you have some symptoms of OSA, that does not guarantee that you have it. A sleep test can either confirm that you have OSA or let you know that you should start looking for another explanation for the way you feel.
• You can learn how severe your condition is. A sleep study does more than determine if you have sleep apnea. It can also let you know how severe your condition is, which can affect which treatment option is best for your unique case.
• A sleep study can open the way for improved health and quality of life. Despite being a minor inconvenience, sleep studies can be a major stepping stone on your journey for improved wellness.

What to Expect from a Sleep Study

A sleep study is an easy and non-invasive experience. You will be given instructions ahead of time to help you prepare. For example, you might need to wear a specific type of pajamas so it will be easier for technicians at the lab to connect you to the monitoring equipment. You might also need to avoid caffeine and alcohol in the last several hours before your study.

During the study, all you have to do is try to get some sleep. Afterward, a qualified doctor will review your results and contact you to help you understand your next steps.

Sleep studies are important and easy! Talk to your care team if you believe you could benefit from one.

Meet the Sleep Apnea Expert

Dr.Kenneth Mogell is a skilled dentist who is double board-certified in dental sleep medicine. For well over 10 years, he has been helping patients throughout Boca Raton and the surrounding areas to find freedom from sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. If you believe you have sleep apnea, he and our team can help you arrange for testing. To learn more about how we may be able to assist you, contact our office at 561-353-5252.