If you often struggle to get rejuvenating, high-quality rest, you might suspect that you have a sleep disorder. In order to find out for sure, you should get in touch with a medical professional who can help you get an official diagnosis. They will likely arrange for you to undergo a sleep study, which may also be referred to as a sleep test. What can you expect during your sleep test, and how can you prepare for it? Continue reading to find out.
What Is a Sleep Test?
Often, sleep tests are conducted in a sleep lab. You spend a night in the lab, and sophisticated machinery monitors you while you sleep. Things like your breathing, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and more may be recorded.
Alternatively, some patients are eligible for an in-home sleep study, wherein you borrow a testing device and use it as instructed for a night. When you return the device, a qualified physician can review your results.
In either case, a sleep test is completely noninvasive and painless.
Preparing for Your Sleep Test
Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your sleep test provides accurate results:
- Discuss medications with the test provider. Some patients are advised to stop taking certain medications before their test, while others are asked to start taking a new prescription.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These substances could skew the results of your test. Do not consume them during the afternoon and evening prior to your test.
- Pack an overnight bag. If your test will be in a lab, bring everything you need for the night and the following morning. For example, you should have pajamas, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and a fresh change of clothes for when you leave in the morning.
- Make yourself comfy. If you find it difficult to sleep in a strange environment, it is fine to bring items to make the lab feel more like home. For example, some patients bring their own pillow.
- Do not nap. Napping the day before your study might make it difficult to sleep at night.
- Do not use hairspray, oils, or gels. Some cosmetic products might interfere with the sensors that will be attached to you during your sleep test. If you are unsure of whether you can use a specific product, ask your sleep test team.
What Happens After a Sleep Test?
Once your sleep test is complete, a physician will review your results to determine if you have a sleep disorder. Once you receive your official diagnosis, you can explore your treatment options. For example, if you have obstructive sleep apnea, an oral appliance from a dentist may be the best way to improve your nighttime breathing and enhance the quality of your sleep.
A sleep test could be the first step on your path to better health and happier days! Your doctor or sleep dentist can help you arrange to undergo this important diagnostic procedure.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Melody Stampe is an experienced sleep dentist who is proud to help patients in the Richardson community to find relief from obstructive sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. If you believe you need to undergo a sleep test, she and our team can help you set it up. Get in touch with our office at 972-907-1718.