You may have heard of polysomnography (PSG), an examination done to diagnose sleep disorders. So, why would someone need to undergo it?
If you often feel tired despite getting enough sleep at night, or if you have trouble falling asleep and wake up feeling unrefreshed, you may need this check-up.
So, what exactly is a PSG? Then, what are the examination objectives, preparation process, procedures, results, and other important things to note? Here is the full review.
Simply put, polysomnography is an examination that aims to diagnose your sleep disorder.
During this examination, body activities will be recorded while you are sleeping or trying to sleep. The recorded data may include brain waves, heart rate, breathing, eye movements, and other body movements during sleep.
In accordance with the definition above, it is clear that the main purpose of PSG is to identify sleep disorders. During PSG, the doctor will monitor several parameters, including:
By monitoring the various parameters above, the risk of developing sleep disorders can be prevented. If left untreated, sleep disorders can increase the following risks:
If you are planning to undergo this screening procedure at Persada Hospital, there are some important preparations that need to be considered, including:
1. Avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine in the afternoon and evening before the examination, as both substances can disrupt sleep patterns and affect the examination results.
2. Do not take a nap before undergoing a sleep disorder assessment.
3. Tell your doctor about any medications you are currently taking to see if there are any substances that may affect the sleep disorder assessment.
Then before the procedure begins, you will be asked to arrive at the sleep disorder clinic about 2 hours before your regular bedtime. When you are ready to sleep, the technician will attach various monitoring equipment to your body, including sensors placed on your scalp, temples, chest and feet.
The sensor is connected to the computer via a long cable, so you can still move around freely. In addition, a small clip will be attached to the finger to monitor oxygen levels in the blood, and an elastic belt on the chest and abdomen to record chest movements and breathing patterns.
If necessary, the doctor will place oxygen during the examination to facilitate the breathing process.
After all the above preparations have been made, the PSG procedure will proceed with the following details:
1. The examination will be conducted in a private room equipped with an ensuite bathroom. These sleeping areas are usually equipped with low-light video cameras, allowing the medical team to monitor sleep movements in dark conditions.
2. An audio system will also be installed to facilitate communication between the medical team and the patient, so that they can hear the patient from the monitoring room outside the room.
3. Patients are encouraged to wear pajamas (nightgowns) and use their usual bedding to feel more comfortable and create a home-like atmosphere.
4. The duration of this examination is usually about 10-12 hours. The patient will enter the room between 20:00-22:00 and leave between 06:00-08:00. The aim is for the patient to get at least 7 hours of sleep during the examination.
Then once the procedure is complete, all monitoring equipment will be removed before the patient leaves the clinic, and the patient can return to their usual daily activities. In addition, there are also types of tests that can be done at home.
The results of the screening procedure are then evaluated by a PSG technician who uses the data to map the stages and cycles of sleep. The sleep specialist then reviews the information.
Especially for patients who do the test at home, the evaluation process may take several days or even weeks. In some cases, the initial results may not provide enough information, so the doctor may recommend further tests at the clinic.
Then at the follow-up visit, the doctor will scrutinize the test results. Based on the data collected, the doctor will propose treatment or further examinations required. As for normal PSG results, they include tracking:
1. Frequency of respiratory arrest during sleep.
2. Respiratory distress during sleep.
3. Brain waves and muscle movements during sleep.
If the results are normal, they will generally show little to no respiratory arrest frequency with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of less than 5 in adults.
However, if the result of the examination is more than 5 AHI, there is a possibility that the patient has sleep apnea.
If the results indicate a sleep disorder, the doctor may recommend further treatment measures, including the use of sleep aids such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) for sleep apnea.
In general, there are no specific restrictions when undergoing PSG procedures. However, the results may be less accurate due to patients feeling uncomfortable during the examination, which makes it more difficult for them to sleep.
Therefore, it is highly recommended for patients who are going to be examined to bring a pillow or sleeping equipment that is usually used to feel comfortable. In addition, patients are also encouraged to invite family/close friends.
In fact, PSG is a relatively safe examination procedure, with no risk of serious complications. However, patients may experience side effects such as itching or irritation where the probe's electrodes are attached to the skin.
In addition, as mentioned earlier, patients may feel uncomfortable because they must sleep in an unfamiliar bed and room during the examination process.
There are several reasons why one may need to undergo PSG or sleep disorder screening. Some of them are when you experience the following symptoms:
It's a disorder where your breathing stops periodically while you're sleeping. Sleep apnea can be very risky for your health, so it needs to be checked early on.
An example of this is restless leg syndrome, where a person will involuntarily make disturbing leg movements during their sleep.
A sleep disorder that makes you feel very sleepy during the day and often falls asleep suddenly.
This is a disorder that makes a person perform movements or actions according to their dreams while sleeping.
Difficulty falling asleep or not sleeping well. This is a serious problem that can be checked through PSG.
If you think you have some of the symptoms or sleep problems above, you may need a polysomnography test. As a solution, you can visit the Sleep and Snoring Clinic at Persada Hospital.
Persada Hospital is a private hospital in Malang that provides the best health and medical services. Here, of course, there is professional treatment from a team of expert doctors with sophisticated facilities. So, visit Persada Hospital to have a polysomnography examination! As for getting more information, contact us!
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