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3 Tips for Preparing for Your Upcoming Sleep Test
A sleep test is a diagnostic tool to identify underlying health issues or sleep habits that leave you feeling less than refreshed each morning.
At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, our sleep specialists offer options for both home testing and in-lab sleep testing.
Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, work to get you an accurate diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and other issues that interfere with good quality sleep.
Before you undergo your sleep test, there are things you can do to prepare to ensure your results are accurate.
What to know about sleep tests
Sleep tests gather important details about your health and body’s function while you sleep. You can monitor some of your vital signs in the comfort of your own home or have a more extensive study completed in our sleep lab.
The lab is a comfortable environment that features a low-light camera to record your movements during sleep. During an in-lab test, our team connects you to sensors that attach to your skin to record information about your:
- Heart rate
- Brain waves
- Eye movements
- Breathing patterns
- Blood oxygen levels
- Arm and leg movements
You spend the night in the lab while our team tracks information about your sleep patterns. In the morning, we remove the sensors and can discuss the next steps.
How to prepare for your sleep test
Before your sleep test, we provide detailed instructions that get you ready for your evaluation.
We understand that sleeping somewhere besides your own bed might make it hard to relax, so our sleep lab is designed to be comfortable. Our team is available to assist you with bathroom breaks or anything else you need.
On the day of your sleep test, you should follow these tips for promoting good sleep:
1. Don’t nap
Even if underlying issues cause you to experience daytime sleepiness, it’s important that you avoid napping on the day of your sleep test.
2. Avoid sedatives
Try to follow your regular routine, even if you’re tired, before reporting to the sleep lab. Don’t use caffeine to try to stay awake. Caffeine use during the day can disrupt your sleep later on and affect your test results.
Also avoid alcohol and any sedative medications. Our team can review any medications you’re taking for underlying health issues to determine if they might interfere with your sleep.
3. Pack for comfort
To make your night in the lab as normal as possible, bring with you items that you would normally use as part of your nighttime regimen, whether it’s comfortable pajamas or lounge wear to sleep in or a favorite book to help you relax.
In addition, don’t forget to pack toiletries and a change of clothes for the following day.
Bonus tip: To prevent interference with the sensors that attach to your head while you sleep, you should avoid using hair spray and other hair products on the day of your test.
Getting your results
After your sleep test ends in the morning, you meet with our team to discuss any additional testing you might need to diagnose your sleep disorder.
Our physicians have experience treating snoring and the underlying causes of daytime or excessive sleepiness, including insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.
Call Stat Care Pulmonary & Sleep today to discuss your options for a sleep study or book a consultation online.
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