Sleep studies (polysomnography)

         Sleep studies (polysomnography) – Sleep is characterised by its own set of medical problems and disorders, which are among the most common affecting human beings. Snoring is a common phenomenon and almost every family has a person who snores loudly while sleeping. However, it is not generally known that snoring accompanied by breathing difficulty may be due to a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

OSA is an important cause of daytime sleepiness, mental dullness and frequent episodes of drowsiness while working or driving, which may sometimes result in accidents.  In the long run, it may result in hypertension, cardiac problems and intellectual deterioration.  

Sleep disorders such as OSA are diagnosed by sleep studies. During a full-fledged sleep study, patients are required to stay overnight in the hospital.  Their sleep pattern is analysed with the help of the polysomnograph, which measures multiple parameters such as brain wave patterns, breathing patterns, abdominal wall movements, heart rate, etc. All these parameters are recorded and then reviewed and analysed. Depending upon the report, the patient may have to stay another night for the application and titration of appropriate treatment.  Besides sleep-hygiene measures, the treatment of OSA essentially requires the regular use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during sleep which is administered with the help of a CPAP/BiPAP machine and a tight-fitting face mask.