Sleep Studies

Sleep studies are diagnostic tests that monitor what happens to your body during the different stages of sleep. Sleep stages are comprised primarily as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Normally, NREM and REM alternate 4 to 5 times during 8 hours of sleep. Sleep studies determine the primary and/or underlying cause of your poor sleep. Some common sleep issues are:

Sleep apnea, this is when you stop breathing, or have a reduction in breathing, during sleep for 10 seconds or longer. This may be caused by blocked airflow during sleep, or it may be caused by a problem with how the brain signals the breathing muscles to work.
Problems staying awake, such as narcolepsy.
Problems with nighttime behaviors, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or bed-wetting.
Problems sleeping at night (insomnia). This may be caused by stress, depression, hunger, physical discomfort, or other problems.
Problems sleeping during the day because you work at night or do rotating shift work. This sleep problem is called shift work sleep disorder.
Conditions such as periodic limb movement disorder, which is repeated muscle twitching of the feet, arms, or legs during sleep.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding can also disrupte sleep and contribute to daytime sleepiness.

Sleep studies are important because untreated sleep disorders can raise your risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other medical conditions. Sleep disorders listed above also have links to increased risk of injury, such as delayed motor skills, falling (in the elderly), and car accidents. Poor sleep can also lead to a decrease in your job performance and separation from your family life.

You may not be aware of your snoring, stopped breathing (sleep apnea), and unusual body movements while sleeping unless witnessed by a bed partner. Daytime Sleepiness causing you to power down coffee and energy drinks excessively can be a big clue to a possible sleep disorder. You may never think to talk to your doctor about issues that might be related to sleep problems. However, this website can help educate you to learn about the importance of healthy sleep.

Fear not! Sleep disorders can be treated. Give us a call at 425-286-6256 if you snore regularly or feel very tired during the day. Take our quick sleep questionnaire!
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There are four main kinds of sleep studies, including:

Diagnostic overnight PSG: General monitoring of sleep and a variety of body functions during sleep, including breathing patterns along with oxygen levels in the blood, heart rhythms, and limb movements.

Diagnostic daytime multiple sleep latency test (MSLT): The MSLT is used to diagnose the degree of your daytime sleepiness and possible narcolepsy. The sleep study measures how quickly you fall asleep in quiet situations during the day and monitors how quickly or how often you enter REM sleep. To ensure accurate results, it is performed on the morning following a diagnostic overnight PSG.

Two-night evaluation PSG and CPAP titration: CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a sleep apnea treatment that involves the delivery of air into the airways through a specially designed nasal mask. On the first night of the two-night protocol, general monitoring and diagnostic evaluation is conducted. If sleep apnea is discovered, the patient returns for a second night to determine the necessary CPAP pressure required to alleviate or eliminate snoring and apnea.

Split-night PSG with CPAP titration: Split night PSG is conducted when moderate or severe sleep apnea has been discovered or strongly suspected during the first part of the nights study. The second half of the night is used to determine the necessary CPAP pressure required to alleviate apnea.

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Sleep Studies