Sleep Studies Comparison

Often, before sleeping experts are able to determine what, if any, sleep disorders a person has, a sleep studies comparison must be done. This comparison or study may only require one session, or several sessions depending on how difficult it is to determine what the cause of the rest problem is when researchers are comparing sleep studies.

Since sleep or rest studies are often done away from a person’s home, the initial rest study may not give accurate results – since the person is trying to sleep in a strange place, they are hooked up to machines, and they know they are being watched – sleeping under those conditions takes a little getting used to, and again, until a person is accustomed to that situation, the sleep studies that are done may not be accurate.

During the rest study several different things are monitored or compared including your brain activity, eye movement, your oxygen levels, your carbon dioxide levels, heart rate, heart rhythm, flow of air through your mouth and nose, snoring, muscle movements, chest movement and belly movement. The equipment that is attached to your body is designed for comfort, but since most people are not accustomed to being attached to things while they are asleep, this may prevent you from sleeping well – at first.

There are three different studies that may be done. The most common is the Polysomnogram study, in which you arrive at the sleep lab and go to sleep. Of course, the sleep is monitored as described above. If a multiple sleep latency test is ordered by your doctor, you will spend the night at the lab sleeping, and you will stay part of the following day. During the day, you will take naps every two hours – with twenty minutes to fall asleep and fifteen minutes to remain asleep. The multiple wake test also requires you to stay overnight and part of the following day. During this test, you sleep at night, and you stay awake the next day without napping.

See Also: Sleep Research Studies

About The Author:
Andrew Thomas is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.sleep-disorders-help.com.