Thinking About a Sleep Study? Here’s What You Need to Know

Good sleep is essential for overall health, and if you're struggling with restless nights, a sleep study could provide the answers you need. Also known as polysomnography, this overnight test monitors brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and other factors to help diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia.

If your doctor has recommended a sleep study, here’s what you need to know to prepare and get the most accurate results.

1. Be Ready to Spend the Night

An in-lab sleep study requires an overnight stay at a sleep center, which is often set up like a hotel room. Once you’re in your pajamas, a technician will attach small sensors to your head and body to monitor your sleep patterns. Depending on your symptoms, you may also be asked to wear a breathing mask to check for sleep apnea.

2. Shower Beforehand but Skip Hair and Skin Products

The adhesive sensors used during the study must stick properly to your skin and scalp. Hair products like gel or hairspray and lotions on your skin can interfere with this, so arrive freshly showered but without these products.

3. Bring Comfort Items From Home

Since sleeping in a new environment can be challenging, bringing familiar items like your own pillow, blanket, or pajamas can help you feel more comfortable. If you use a night guard, sleep mask, or listen to relaxing music before bed, bring those too.

4. Expect Your Sleep to Feel Different

Sleeping in a lab, hooked up to monitors, isn’t exactly relaxing. However, even if you don’t sleep as soundly as usual, a few hours of sleep is typically enough to detect major sleep issues. Expect to feel a little tired the next day and plan accordingly.

5. Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon and Evening

Caffeine can interfere with your ability to fall asleep naturally, which could affect your test results. Even if you’re used to an afternoon coffee or tea, skip it on the day of your study to ensure more accurate data.

6. Skip Naps That Day

While napping might seem like a good way to prepare for a long night, it can actually make it harder for you to fall asleep during your study. Try to stay awake all day so that you feel naturally tired at bedtime.

7. Exercise in the Morning, Not at Night

Exercise is great for sleep, but working out too close to bedtime can increase alertness and make it harder to relax. If you typically work out in the evening, consider exercising in the morning on the day of your study instead.

8. Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol can make you feel drowsy, but it disrupts sleep later in the night. Studies, including a review in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, have found that alcohol’s sedative effects wear off after a few hours, leading to more fragmented sleep.

9. Skip Sleep Aids and Melatonin

To get an accurate picture of your natural sleep patterns, avoid using melatonin or other sleep aids before your study unless your doctor specifically advises otherwise. If you take prescription medications, let the sleep specialist know in advance.

10. Check With Your Insurance

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover sleep studies if they are deemed medically necessary. However, coverage may vary between in-lab and at-home tests. Contact your provider in advance to understand your costs and ensure the sleep center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

11. Sleep Studies Don’t Diagnose Everything

While a sleep study can provide valuable insight into certain conditions, it won’t detect every sleep disorder. There are more than 80 recognized sleep disorders, and some require additional evaluation beyond a single overnight test. Be sure to discuss your full sleep history and symptoms with your doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis.

The Bottom Line

A sleep study can provide critical insights into sleep issues, but preparation is key to getting the best results. By following these tips, you’ll be ready for the test and set yourself up for a more accurate diagnosis.

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