What is polysomnography/sleep study?
Polysomnography, which is also called sleep research, is a non-invasive diagnostic test performed in a sleep laboratory (a specially equipped room) by observing the patient as they fall asleep and while they are asleep. Various physiological parameters are simultaneously assessed: the time it takes to fall asleep, the time it takes to enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the flow of air into and out of the lungs during breathing, and the frequency of complete cessation of breathing (apnea) or temporary reduction in breathing activity (hypopnea) while the person is sleeping.
The advantage of this method lies in safety and painlessness, because the patient does not feel any discomfort.
The purpose of sleep research: for diagnosing types of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders can manifest themselves in different ways:
- insomnia, when the night is spent trying to fall asleep;
- snoring during sleep;
- waking up due to lack of air;
- overly sensitive superficial sleep;
- frequent awakenings at night;
- long sleep (>10-12 hours);
- daytime drowsiness;
- stress, emotional overstrain.
The following parameters are monitored during the study:
- the flow of air into and out of the lungs during breathing
- blood oxygen level
- breathing movements
- respiratory rate
- body position
- eye movement
- EEG brain waves
- electrical muscle activity
- Heart rate and ECG
- presence and frequency of snoring
Diagnostics can be applied to people of all age groups: adults, the elderly, adolescents, children, and pregnant women.
The next step after conducting sleep diagnostics is the selection of CPAP therapy, a method of correcting the identified sleep disorders.
Conducting polysomnography requires modern, highly accurate equipment, as well as providing comfortable conditions for the guest to avoid emotional stress. At Forest retreat center, the sleep laboratory is equipped with all the necessary diagnostic equipment of the latest generation, manufactured in Germany.
