A sleep study is necessary for determining if a patient suffers from sleep apnea, a condition where the airway is obstructed during normal sleep. The airway obstruction causes carbon dioxide buildup in the body; when the brain detects this, it wakes you up briefly. This waking event is often characterized by a loud snorting or choking sound, easily noticeable to sleep partners.

So if it’s so easy to notice, why do you need a sleep study? The study’s equipment captures valuable data that determines if your sleep disorder is indeed apnea or something else. This is extremely important to ensure you get the treatment you need.

An at-home sleep study functions very similarly to an inpatient sleep study. You are lent equipment that may include:

• A finger probe that measures your oxygen levels
• A mask with small tubes that insert into your nostrils
• Abdomen and chest sensors

The equipment is minimal and comfortable, and most studies can be completed in a single night. The home sleep study is a streamlined version of a traditional inpatient study, and captures only essential data; this means it is both simpler and more affordable! For more complex sleep disorders, an inpatient sleep study may be still be required.

Dr. Klooster does not perform the sleep study himself or provide you with equipment. Rather, he collaborates with your primary care doctor, who will also write a prescription for an oral appliance if you need one. This combined expertise streamlines the experience.

For certain types of sleep apnea – or for more severe cases – an inpatient polysomnogram may be recommended . With this test, you stay overnight in a hospital setting. It differs from an at-home sleep study in that it gathers far more data, including:

• Leg movements
• Unusual sounds
• Eye movements
• Brain waves

This broad spectrum of data can inform more specific treatments, and determine if your sleep apnea is comorbid with other disorders like insomnia or REM Behavior Disorder. Though this does require more sensors, the polysomnogram is not invasive.

An inpatient polysomnogram can also determine if you need a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which feeds air into your airway as you sleep. Follow-up tests may be required to determine the amount of pressure required.

After your study is complete, your primary care doctor and Dr. Klooster will review the data and determine further treatment.