Polysomnography (sleep study)


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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Polysomnography, also called a sleep study, is a test used to diagnose sleep disorders. Polysomnography records your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements during the study.

Polysomnography usually is done at a sleep disorders unit within a hospital or at a sleep center. You'll be asked to come to the sleep center in the evening for polysomnography so that the test can record your nighttime sleep patterns.

In addition to helping diagnose sleep disorders, polysomnography may be used to help adjust your treatment plan if you've already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

References
  1. Behrouz J, et al. Polysomnography. Clinics in Chest Medicine. 2010;31:287.
  2. Overnight sleep study. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?id=12&DType=4. Accessed Sept. 2, 2011.
  3. Sleep cycles. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. http://www.sleepeducation.com/sleepcycles.aspx. Accessed Sept. 3, 2011.
  4. Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.htm. Accessed Sept. 3, 2011.
  5. What are sleep studies? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/slpst/. Accessed Sept. 1, 2011.
  6. Sleep studies. American Thoracic Society. http://patients.thoracic.org/information-series/en/resources/sleep-studies.pdf. Accessed Sept. 1, 2011.
  7. St. Louis EK, et al. The nervous system. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..00008-9--sc9000&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&sid=1201926766&uniqId=279535098-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..00008-9--s9180. Accessed Sept. 2, 2011.
MY00970 Dec. 6, 2011

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