Testing for Sleep Disorders
Your WellStar physician will take a careful medical history that includes a questionnaire about your sleep habits and perform a physical examination. Some sleep disorders may be diagnosed on the basis of the history and exam, while others might require tests or evaluation including:
- Blood tests or muscle/nerve studies to exclude other possible causes for your symptoms.
- Sleep diary to maintain a detailed record of your sleep pattern for a week or two. Your physician might provide you with a portable monitoring device, such as an actigraph, to measure your heart rate and activity.
- Imaging – including X-ray, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – to check the structure of your airway for physical problems affecting your sleep.
- Polysomnogram to measure a variety of signals during sleep. The test, which requires an overnight visit to one of the WellStar Sleep Disorders Centers, measures multiple parameters, including the breathing pattern, the electrical activity of the brain (electroencephalogram) and the heart (electrocardiogram), and the movement of chin and limb muscles (electromyogram) and eyes (electro-oculogram). Your Wellstar Sleep Physician will review the study and provide a report.