Frequently asked questions

The primary symptoms of disordered sleeping are excessive sleepiness during the day, difficulty concentrating, falling asleep at inappropriate times, difficulty falling or staying asleep, excessive sleeping and abnormal behaviors during sleep (restless legs).

If left untreated, sleep problems can lead to serious and even life-threatening problems, including high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, congestive heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Sleep apnea contributes to obesity, depression and injurious and potentially deadly accidents. The type of disorder, severity of symptoms and the presence of other sleep disorders or complicating factors are all important and need to be correctly identified in order to be appropriately treated. Once identified, specific treatment options can be recommended.

Many people could improve their sleep with improved “sleep hygiene” habits. Establishing a routine bedtime and wake time. Moving the television and computer out of your bedroom. Refrain from drinking caffeinated beverages in the evening and finish your last meal of the day at least three hours prior to bedtime. Of course, none of these changes in habit will cure or resolve sleep apnea, but they can help with a number of other common sleep disorders. Because of the subtleties involved, a sleep study may be necessary to determine of you have a sleep disorder or not. The very best way to start sleeping better is to find out why you are not sleeping well in the first place! You can get the treatment and information you need from a sleep specialist.

While it depends on your insurance company and the specific plan you have, most sleep studies are covered by insurance. As a courtesy to our patients and as part of our comprehensive services, Comprehensive Sleep Center will contact your insurance company to help you determine your plan’s coverage and your eligibility for services. Check here to earn more about insurance coverage.

During polysomnography

You arrive at the sleep center in the evening for polysomnography and stay overnight. You may bring items you use for your bedtime routine, and you can sleep in your own nightclothes.

The room where polysomnography is done is similar to a hotel room, and it's dark and quiet during the test. You won't share the room with anyone else. Each room has its own bathroom.

The sleeping area will typically have a low-light video camera, so the polysomnography technologists monitoring you can see what's happening in the room when the lights are out. It also has an audio system, so they can talk to you and hear you from their monitoring area outside the room.

After you get ready for bed, one of the technologists will place sensors on your scalp, temples, chest and legs using a mild adhesive, such as glue or tape. The sensors are connected by wires to a computer, but the wires are long enough to let you move around in bed. A small clip also is placed on your finger or ear to monitor the level of oxygen in your blood.

While you sleep, a technologist monitors your:

• Brain waves
• Eye movements
• Heart rate
• Breathing pattern
• Blood oxygen level
• Body position
• Chest and abdominal movement
• Limb movement
• Snoring and other noise you may make as you sleep

Polysomnography technologists monitor you throughout the night. If you need assistance, you can talk to them through the monitoring equipment. They can come into the room to detach the wires if you need to get up during the night.

During the study, the technologist may have you try a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine for sleep apnea. This is a device that consists of a tight-sealing nosepiece through which a gentle stream of air is delivered to enhance your breathing.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is one type of PAP machine. CPAP devices deliver a constant stream of air that keeps the airway passages open while you sleep. For some people, bi-level positive airway pressure (biPap or bPap) machines may be a more comfortable choice. These devices deliver more pressure while you're breathing in, and lower pressure when you exhale. You may have the opportunity to try on a PAP device before the sleep study begins so that you are not surprised by it if the technologist suggests you try the device later in the night. If necessary, oxygen also may be used during the study to bolster your breathing.

Although you probably won't fall asleep as easily or sleep as well at the sleep center as you do at home, this usually doesn't affect the test results. A full night's sleep isn't required to obtain accurate polysomnography results.

After polysomnography In the morning, the sensors are removed, and you may leave the sleep center. You're given an appointment for a follow-up visit with the doctor who recommended the test. You can return to your usual activities after polysomnography.

Yes! Although we highly recommend coming into our center and having your Sleep Study professionally monitored, we understand that that doesn't always work for everyone. So, with our Home Sleep Study Kit you can conduct a sleep study at home using a device that records data while you sleep and is then brought into our center for a doctor to review and analyze. Please be aware that not all insurance providers cover Home Sleep Studies.