Polysomnography (Sleep Study)

Polysomnography, usually called a sleep study, records what happens in your body while you sleep so that sleep disorders can be diagnosed accurately. Small sensors measure brain activity, eye and muscle movements, breathing, oxygen levels, heart rhythm and leg movements through a whole night. It is mainly used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, but it also helps assess other conditions that disturb sleep or cause daytime sleepiness. The study involves no needles, no anaesthesia and no recovery time. A full study is done overnight in a sleep laboratory, while a simpler home test suits some adults. International patients often combine a sleep study, a specialist consultation and the start of treatment, such as CPAP, in one short visit.