Sleep studies are commonly performed to accurately diagnose the type and severity of sleep apnea a person has. Your doctor or dentist may recommend a home sleep study that you can conduct by applying various monitors before going to sleep. The monitors are connected to a recording device that measures relevant vital signs, such as your heart rate and breathing rate. The device is then returned to the office or sent directly to a sleep study lab for interpretation.
Another option that may be recommended for some people is to have a sleep study done in a formal sleep center. In this case, just like a home sleep study, you might be observed for eight to nine hours, the normal amount of time that most people are asleep.
If you are advised to have a sleep study, you can expect to be given the fullest extent of information to help you prepare.