How to Prepare for a Sleep Apnea Test

A sleep apnea test can help you get to the bottom of your insomnia. There may be many reasons for your inability to get a good night's sleep. The causes of insomnia can range from to anxiety and depression, to a poor diet or sleep apnea. Sometimes, the way to find out the true cause is through the process of elimination. A sleep apnea test is another option. This involves using one or a series of tests to analyze your sleeping patterns along with what happens with your body while you sleep. Here is how to prepare for a sleep apnea test.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get your body ready for the sleep apnea test. Ask your doctor before your appointment if there are certain foods that you should avoid in the hours leading up to the test. Find out if you should stop taking certain meditations, vitamins or herbal supplements.

2. Make a list of you sleep related problems. This will help your doctor evaluate your personal situation. Keep track of how long it takes you to get to sleep at night, and how many times you wake up throughout the night. Take note of how long it takes you to get back to sleep. Pay attention to other symptoms that you are having that may be related to your insomnia. Mention them to your doctor. This can later be very helpful in determining the cause of your insomnia, if turns out that you don't have sleep apnea.

3. Find out which type of sleep apnea test you will have done. This can help you prepare yourself. You will more than likely have to spend the night in a sleep center. One type of sleep apnea test is known as nocturnal polysomnography. This involves monitoring your breathing, as well as brain, heart and lung functioning. It will also monitor your body movements and blood oxygen levels. Another type of testing is oximetry, which is the use of a monitoring machine to record your blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Portable cardiorespiratory testing is sometimes combined with oximetry, along with tests to measure your breathing patterns and airflow.

4. Find out if a family member or friend can come with you to your appointment. Undergoing a sleep apnea test can be an intimidating experience for some people. You will be hooked up to monitors and machines, and you will have to go to sleep in order for your situation to be analyzed. These aren't ideal conditions for getting a good rest. Especially if you are already having challenges getting to sleep. Having someone that you care about there with you can help put you at ease. Find out about the sleep center's policy on visitors.

[shenandoah]

on 4/27/2009 Great article on ways to prepare for an anea test. Three family members have apnea and three spouses are sleeping better now (~.~)

[Gardengates]

on 4/20/2009 Thanks for the helpful advice for preparing for this test. A friend of mine took the test, was diagnosed with sleep apnea and has gotten help he says has changed his life radically for the better!

[sunshine11219]

on 4/20/2009 thanks for the advice on sleep apnea tests

[hagridsmom]

on 4/19/2009 The test itself turned out to be nonscary. I had no idea where to set the comfort number bed! The technicians were very knowledgable and explained well. One problem for me was the solvent for the glue on the head electrodes is nasty smelling - if you were going to work after this test you would want to wash your hair. It's not messy glue though.