What's It Like: To get a sleep study?

To have a sleep study performed, you will likely go to a sleep center. Some hospitals have their own sleep centers. You can talk with your primary care provider about what option might be best for you.

What happens during a sleep study?

Before you go in for a sleep study, you will likely see either your primary care physician or a doctor at a sleep center who can evaluate your symptoms.

Assuming that you sleep at night, rather than work at night and sleep during the day, you would check into a sleep center in the evening.

You'll sleep in a room that will look similar to a bedroom or hotel room. A medical professional will attach a sensor device with several wires to your head. Other sensors and clips are attached to your chest, finger and legs. The devices enable medical staff to monitor your brain waves, breathing, heartbeat, snoring, blood oxygen levels and leg movements. If you suffer from seizures or sleep walking, there might be a few additional sensors to monitor other types of brain activity.

You might be given a fast-acting sleep aid. This will help you fall asleep quickly but shouldn't make you feel drowsy when you awake in the morning. Some people find it difficult to fall asleep away from their own beds, so the sleep aid can better ensure good study results.

Some people choose a split-night sleep study and come in two nights for monitoring. This can be helpful with patients who have sleep apnea, a disorder where you stop and start breathing in your sleep. Sleep apnea is most likely to occur during REM, or rapid eye movement sleep. The amount of REM sleep increases as the night goes on.