Sleep Medicine
Quality sleep plays an important role in your overall health and well-being. If you regularly wake up feeling tired, snore loudly, wake up gasping for air, or struggle with daytime sleepiness, an underlying sleep disorder could be affecting your rest.
What is a Sleep Study?
A sleep study is a test that monitors your body while you sleep. Depending on the type of study, different measurements may be recorded, including your breathing, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, body movements, and brain activity.
These sleep tests can help healthcare providers diagnose sleep disorders and better understand symptoms that may be affecting your sleep. They are commonly used to evaluate sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
A sleep test may be recommended if your symptoms or health history suggest that a sleep disorder could be affecting your health.
When Might You Need a Sleep Study?
It isn’t always easy to recognize a sleep disorder, especially when symptoms happen while you’re asleep. In some cases, a bed partner or family member may notice changes in your breathing before you do.
Talk with your healthcare provider about a sleep study if you regularly experience:
- Loud or persistent snoring
- Pauses in breathing while you sleep
- Gasping or choking during the night
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Waking with a dry mouth or headache
- Frequently waking during the night
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Feeling tired even after getting enough time in bed
These symptoms can have several possible causes, so experiencing one or more does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. A healthcare provider can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether sleep testing is appropriate.
Sleep Studies for Sleep Apnea
Astera Health offers in-house overnight sleep studies and home sleep studies. The type of testing recommended will depend on your symptoms, health history, and the information your healthcare provider needs.
Overnight Sleep Study
An overnight sleep study takes place at a sleep center while you sleep. Sensors are used to monitor different aspects of your sleep and body functions throughout the night.
During an overnight study, your healthcare team may monitor measurements such as:
- Brain activity
- Heart rate
- Breathing
- Blood oxygen levels
- Body movements
- Other factors related to your sleep
The information collected during the study can help your healthcare provider better understand your sleep and determine whether a sleep disorder may be present. Although spending a night at a sleep center may feel unfamiliar, the goal is to make the environment as comfortable as possible while collecting the information needed to evaluate your sleep.
Home Sleep Study
A home sleep study allows some patients to complete their testing in their own home. You will receive instructions for using the equipment and collecting information while you sleep.
Home sleep apnea testing is commonly used to evaluate adults who have symptoms suggesting obstructive sleep apnea and who are appropriate candidates for home testing. It is not the right option for every patient or every sleep concern, so your healthcare provider will determine which type of testing is appropriate for you.
If a home test does not provide enough information or the results are inconclusive, additional testing may be recommended.
What Happens After a Sleep Study?
A sleep study is an important step in understanding your sleep, but it is only one part of the evaluation process.
After your test, the results are reviewed, and your healthcare provider will discuss what they show. Depending on your results and symptoms, you may receive a diagnosis, be referred for additional testing, or discuss treatment options.
For example, if testing shows that you have obstructive sleep apnea, your healthcare provider can discuss treatment options that may help keep your airway open while you sleep. Treatment can vary from person to person based on the type and severity of sleep apnea and other health considerations.
How Do You Schedule a Sleep Study?
If you are concerned about your sleep, start by talking with your healthcare provider. They can discuss your symptoms, health history, and whether a sleep study may be appropriate.
Astera Health offers both home and overnight sleep studies at its sleep center in Wadena, Minnesota. If your provider recommends sleep testing, our team can help you understand what to expect and take the next step in evaluating your sleep.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, talk with your healthcare provider or contact Astera Health.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Sleep
You don’t have to keep guessing why you wake up tired or struggle to stay awake during the day. If you have symptoms that may point to a sleep disorder, talking with your healthcare provider is a good place to start.
Astera Health offers sleep studies in Wadena, MN, including home and overnight testing, to help identify potential sleep-related concerns and guide the next steps in your care.
Talk with your healthcare provider or schedule an appointment with Astera Health to learn more about sleep testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sleep study?
It’s a test that monitors different aspects of your body while you sleep. Depending on the type of study, it may measure breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, brain activity, and body movements. Sleep studies can help healthcare providers diagnose sleep disorders.
What do these tests diagnose?
Sleep studies can help evaluate sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Depending on the type of testing your healthcare provider orders, sleep studies can also help evaluate other sleep disorders, including certain movement disorders and conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
How do I know if I need a sleep study?
Symptoms such as loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, and unexplained fatigue may be reasons to talk with your healthcare provider about sleep testing. Your provider can determine whether a sleep study is appropriate based on your symptoms and health history.
What is the difference between a home sleep study and an overnight sleep study?
A home sleep study allows eligible patients to complete testing at home using portable equipment. An overnight sleep study takes place at a sleep center and can collect more detailed information about sleep and body functions. The right type of testing depends on your symptoms and individual needs.
Can this test diagnose sleep apnea?
Yes. They are commonly used to help diagnose sleep apnea. Depending on your needs and health history, your healthcare provider may use an overnight sleep study or a home sleep apnea test to evaluate you for obstructive sleep apnea.
How long does a sleep study take?
An overnight sleep study generally takes place over one night. You can complete a home sleep test by following the instructions that come with the equipment. Your healthcare team can provide specific information about what to expect for your test.
What should I do if I think I have sleep apnea?
Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms. If they believe sleep apnea may be contributing to your symptoms, they can determine whether a sleep study or other evaluation is appropriate. Signs of sleep apnea can include loud snoring, breathing that starts and stops, gasping for air, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
CONTACT US
Astera Health – Main Campus
421 11th St. NW
Wadena, MN 56482
Make an Appointment: 218-631-3510 or Schedule Online
Toll-Free: 800-631-1811
For more information on scheduling an appointment for a sleep study, speak with your healthcare provider. Click the button below to schedule an appointment.