What is a sleep study? Plus, 5 reasons why you might need one
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
If you’re struggling with sleepless nights, a sleep study could help you uncover why. Explore 5 reasons you might want to try a sleep study, and how to prepare for it.
Sleep issues plague many people in any number of ways. Maybe you’re not sure what’s going on, but you’re waking up exhausted, no matter what time you go to bed, or you just feel chronically sleep-deprived. Or maybe you know for a fact that your snoring is what’s making it tough for you to sleep through the night, but you’re just not sure what to do about it.
A sleep study might be the solution to your problems.
Sleep studies are one of the most effective, least invasive ways to get real answers about your sleep habits and the effect they have on you. Still, most people don’t know what a sleep study actually is.
To help you determine if one is right for you, here’s everything you need to know about sleep studies, including why to do one, how they work, and ways to prepare for them.
What is a sleep study?
A sleep study, also known as polysomnography, is basically a deep dive into what your body’s doing while you sleep — or try to sleep. It’s a painless, overnight test that might measure your brain waves, heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing patterns, snoring, leg movements, and how often you wake up without even realizing it.
These studies can help experts diagnose conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and insomnia. In general, they’re great for helping your doctor gather data, understand why you’re exhausted, and hopefully, work toward a solution.
If your relationship with sleep isn’t great, a sleep study might be just the thing you need to get answers and help improve your rest.
5 reasons for doing a sleep study
Many people complain of being tired, so it can be hard to know if you’re having sleep issues. If you’re still not sure if you should do a sleep study, here are five reasons it could be time for you to seek one out:
1. You snore like a chainsaw: Loud, frequent snoring can be a sign that something is wrong. If your partner lovingly tells you that your snores are keeping them up, this might mean it’s time for a sleep study.
2. You wake up feeling like you fought a bear in your sleep: If you went to bed at a reasonable hour and still feel drained the next morning, a sleep study can help you discover if you’re getting enough deep sleep.
3. Someone tells you that you stop breathing at night: If your partner has ever nudged you awake because they worried you weren’t breathing, you might have sleep apnea — a condition that can increase your risk of heart problems and high blood pressure. A sleep study may be able to give you answers, but you should also call your doctor.
4. You’re accidentally dozing off in weird places: Excessive daytime sleepiness could be a sign of narcolepsy or other sleep disorders. If you’re nodding off at inconvenient times, look into a sleep study to make sure you’re getting the rest your body needs.
5. You kick, thrash, or act out your dreams: Disorders like REM sleep behavior disorder or periodic limb movement disorder can cause you to move a lot while you sleep, which can be dangerous. A sleep study can help you figure out what’s going on and also help you find ways to keep yourself—and your bedmate—safe.
What happens during a sleep study?
Most sleep studies take place in the evening at a clinic — a no-frills hotel-like space. A technician usually greets you and helps you get settled in. They’ll hook you up to wires and gently attach sensors to your scalp, chest, legs, and sometimes under your nose and on your finger. Don’t worry: None of it is painful.
While you sleep, this equipment will track your brain waves, breathing, heart rate, how often you wake up, and if you stop breathing altogether. You don’t have to do anything special during the study. All you have to do is go to bed the way you normally would.
From another room, a technician will monitor you and make sure the data comes through clearly. If you need anything in the night, like a bathroom break or blanket adjustment, you can call out and they’ll help. In the morning, you’ll wake up and head home.
Afterward, a sleep specialist will review the data, and within a week or two, they’ll let you know what’s going on.
How to prepare for a polysomnography (sleep study).
If you’re about to take part in a sleep study and are feeling anxious, here are eight tips to help you get prepared.
1. Stick to your normal routine
You want to be naturally tired when you show up, so try to stick to your regular routine. Wake up at your normal time, eat meals like you usually would, and avoid taking any naps.
If you usually unwind by reading in bed, bring your book. For the best results, aim to mimic your nighttime rhythm as much as this new setting will allow. (In the meantime, here are 10 sleep hygiene tips for better sleep.)
2. Avoid caffeine and alcohol the day of
Caffeine can interfere with your ability to fall and stay asleep. And while alcohol might knock you out initially, it can impact your sleep cycles and mask or exaggerate symptoms, which can affect the results.
To get the most out of the study, consider cutting off caffeine after noon and abstaining from drinking.
3. Wash your hair
A technician will attach electrodes to your scalp, and these stick-on sensors don’t always work with hair products.
To make it easier for these electrodes to stick, skip the conditioner, gels, sprays, oils, and dry shampoo the day of your sleep study. Also, if you have longer hair, bring a few loose hair ties to keep it out of the way.
4. Pack like you’re sleeping over at your friend’s place
To make yourself as comfortable as possible, bring your own PJs, but avoid anything silk or satin as that could slide around or mess with the sensors. You might also pack a pillow, a small blanket, or a stuffed animal if it helps you sleep, nighttime toiletries, and headphones.
5. Tell them about your meds
Some medications can affect sleep, breathing, and even your brainwaves, so let your doctor or technician know ahead of time what you’re taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements.
6. Don’t stress if you’re anxious or think you won’t sleep
It’s okay if your sleep is a little off during the study. It’s to be expected. The new environment can make it hard for you to fall asleep, but just know that the equipment is so sensitive that even a few hours of sleep can help provide enough data to get results.
Try to remind yourself that you’re not being graded and you’re not failing if it takes you a while to doze off. The goal is to gather patterns and not be perfect.
💙 Listen to Stress with Tamara Levitt if you’re feeling a little anxious.
7. Prep your morning-after game plan
Most likely, you’ll be leaving early in the morning with some gel still in your hair. To make sure you’re ready, pack clothes you’ll want to wear the next day. You could also pack some dry shampoo and a snack if you’re heading straight to work.
You might even want to consider planning to take the next day off just to process or rest.
8. Be kind to yourself
As much as you can, remind yourself that this is an unusual thing you’re doing and it’s okay to feel nervous and awkward about it. Here are five exercises that can help you practice self-compassion if this isn’t your strong suit.
💙 Learn how to Replace Self-Criticism with Self-Compassion in this session with Dr. Julie.
What is a sleep study FAQs
What happens during a sleep study?
Once you check into the sleep clinic, you’ll be shown to a private room that’s designed to feel a bit like a hotel room. A technician will then gently attach sensors to your head, face, chest, and legs using sticky pads that can track things like your brain activity, oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing patterns, and body movement while you sleep.
As you sleep, you’ll be monitored closely. Sleep studies are low-key, low-effort, and don't require any test-taking or performance. All you have to do is show up, try your best to sleep, and then go home in the morning.
Do sleep studies hurt or cause discomfort?
A sleep study does not hurt. In fact, the biggest discomfort is just the awkwardness of sleeping with wires and stickers stuck to your body.
And while sleep studies might be slightly inconvenient, they're totally doable, and they can give you the answers you desperately need.
Is it possible to do a sleep study at home?
At-home sleep studies are definitely an option, and doctors sometimes suggest them if they suspect you might be having sleep issues that are a little more straightforward, like obstructive sleep apnea.
If you take part in an at-home sleep study, you’ll be sent home with a small kit that includes a couple of sensors, a little nasal tube that goes under your nose, and instructions on how to set everything up.
It’s way more convenient, but your doctor could still recommend an in-lab study if the results are inconclusive or more complicated symptoms appear.
What can a sleep study diagnose?
Sleep studies can identify a whole lineup of sleep disorders, many of which can seriously impact your rest and your overall health if left untreated. The big one tends to be sleep apnea, which can cause your breathing to stop and start throughout the night, but studies can also catch conditions, including:
Narcolepsy: Your brain can’t regulate sleep-wake cycles properly.
Restless leg syndrome: You involuntarily move in the night.
REM sleep behavior disorder: You act out your dreams physically.
What if I can't sleep during a sleep study?
Many people have not been able to sleep during a sleep study. After all, it can be hard to rest in a strange bed with wires stuck to your body, and when you know someone’s monitoring you.
If this happens, know that sleep specialists can still get a lot of information from you, even from just a few hours of rest. You don’t need to give them a full eight hours, and they’re used to people having issues falling asleep.
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