What Should You Expect at Your Sleep Test?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a dangerous disorder that should never be ignored or dismissed. If your doctor suspects that you have it, they may encourage you to undergo a sleep test. What happens during a sleep test, and what can you expect from the process? This blog post can prepare you for the road ahead.

How to Prepare

The goal of a sleep test is to diagnose sleep disorders, such as OSA. Therefore, you should avoid doing anything before the test that might interfere with your results. For example, you should not consume alcohol or drink caffeine in the afternoon. Napping before a sleep test is also discouraged.

Sleep tests usually happen in a laboratory, so you may need to pack a few things to have a comfortable experience. Bring some comfy pajamas, a change of clothes for the morning, and a special pillow if you use one.

What Happens During the Test?

When you arrive at the sleep lab, you will be escorted to a private room, where a technician will connect you to some monitoring equipment that will keep track of your respiration, movements, and other important statistics. The equipment may look a bit strange or uncomfortable, but you may be surprised by how easy it is to wear.

Then, all you have to do is fall asleep! If you need to use the restroom at any point during the night, your technician can disconnect you from the monitoring equipment.

After the Test

Once the sleep test is complete, a qualified physician will review the results. They will examine data that provides information about your breathing, movements, wake periods, and more. From there, they will be able to determine whether you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder that requires treatment.

If you are officially diagnosed with OSA, you can start learning about your treatment options, such as oral appliance therapy or CPAP therapy. After you have been using your treatment for a while, you may be encouraged to undergo a second sleep test so your medical team can determine how well your treatment is working.

Sleep tests are not scary or painful. In fact, this simple procedure can be an important first step on your way to improved health and wellness.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is an experienced practitioner who is double board-certified in dental sleep medicine. He specializes in providing oral appliance therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea. If you have been struggling to feel well-rested lately, our team can evaluate your symptoms and help you arrange for a sleep test if necessary. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact any of our three locations or call our Boca Raton office at  561-353-5252.