Do you wake up frequently throughout the night? Are told by your partner that you’re keeping them up with your snoring? It’s possible that you are suffering from the sleep-depriving condition known as Sleep Apnea. This disorder affects your quality of sleep, as well as your quality of life as a whole.
Luckily, doctors have been studying sleep apnea for years and have created sleep studies for their patients. A sleep study is an evaluation of your sleep to determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea.
Preparing for A Sleep Study
In order to get the most out of your sleep study, it’s essential to take the proper steps to ensure you are physically and mentally ready. A crucial step to mastering your sleep study is scheduling a consultation with your certified physician.
During this time, you will receive in-depth information about the sleep study process and what to expect. This is the perfect time to explain your symptoms and what you hope to get out of the sleep study. A sleep study is an overnight process and will provide your physician with the information needed to make a diagnosis, but preparation is necessary for accurate results.
Questions to Ask During the Consultation
This test is the first step to eliminating your sleep apnea, so it’s crucial you know exactly what it entails.
Some questions to ask your physician during your consultation include:
- What should I bring to the sleep study?
- How long will the process take?
- Does it matter what I eat or drink before the study?
- When will I receive my results from the sleep study?
Scheduling a Sleep Study
The point of a sleep study is to evaluate your sleep patterns on a typical night, which is why it’s important to schedule the sleep study for a time that you usually go to sleep. If you typically stay up till midnight or later, planning a later sleep study would be most beneficial for you. Most physicians offer day time studies for those who sleep during the daytime hours due to night shifts at work.
You should perform your everyday activities the day before the study and even stay up later than usual in order for you to experience normal sleep patterns during the study.
What To Do the Day of Your Sleep Study
It’s important that you’re relaxed and feeling drowsy prior to the sleep study. We recommend that you wake up earlier on the day of the study and avoid napping to ensure you’re ready to sleep when you arrive at the sleep center.
Monitoring what you eat and drink the day of the study is crucial as well. It’s recommended that you avoid anything with caffeine such as coffee, soda, energy drinks, or even chocolate. Please make sure you eat dinner before your sleep study and avoid drinking alcohol unless it’s part of your nightly routine.
If you work the day of the study, make sure to stop working at least two hours beforehand. Relaxing your mind and avoiding situations that may cause stress during this timeframe will allow you to fall asleep easier. Avoiding things such as social media or the news may reduce the risk of insomnia during your sleep study.
Seeking Treatment from Dr. Lauk
Once you receive your sleep apnea diagnosis, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Lauk to explore treatment options. She will use your results and lifestyle habits to determine which oral application is best for you. While CPAP is ineffective for many people, it may be a necessary option for extreme cases of sleep apnea.
Contact our office in Keller, TX to schedule your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Lauk.