Sleep Study (Polysomnography) for Tricity Patients

What actually happens to your breathing at night

You can't watch yourself sleep. A partner can tell you that you snore or stop breathing, but not how often, how long, or how low your oxygen drops. A sleep study answers those questions with numbers.

It's the test used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it also helps with other night-time problems. If you have already read our page on sleep apnea and snoring, this is the next step.

Sleep studies are arranged through Paras Health, Panchkula, not at the Sector 20 clinic. Which type of study suits you is decided at the consultation.

Who should consider a sleep study

• Loud snoring with pauses, choking or gasping noticed by someone else
• Daytime sleepiness: dozing while reading, watching TV, in meetings, or at traffic signals
• Morning headaches and a dry mouth on waking
• Waking up often at night to urinate
• High blood pressure that stays high despite medicines
• Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), heart failure or a past stroke
• Severe obesity with breathlessness
• Before certain surgeries, if sleep apnea is suspected

Types of sleep study

Home sleep test (Level 3)

A small portable device is fitted in the evening, and you sleep in your own bed. It usually records:

• Airflow through the nose
• Breathing effort from the chest and abdomen, using soft belts
• Oxygen levels and pulse, using a clip on the finger
• Body position and snoring

Good for: adults with typical symptoms of moderate to severe OSA and no major heart, lung or nerve disease.

Advantages: you sleep at home, it's cheaper and more convenient, and many people sleep more naturally.

Limitations: it doesn't record actual sleep stages, so mild cases can be under-counted. If the result is negative but symptoms are strong, a full lab study may still be needed.

Overnight lab polysomnography (Level 1)

You spend the night in a sleep lab with a technician monitoring throughout. In addition to the home-test channels, it records:

• Brain waves (EEG) to identify sleep stages
• Eye movements and chin muscle activity
• Leg movements
• Heart rhythm (ECG)
• Often video

Good for: complicated cases, patients with heart failure or lung disease, suspected other sleep disorders (such as restless legs, narcolepsy or unusual behaviours at night), or when a home test is inconclusive.

CPAP titration

If sleep apnea is confirmed and CPAP is recommended, a titration study finds the right air pressure for you. Sometimes it is done in the second half of the same night (a "split-night" study), or using an auto-adjusting machine at home over a few nights.

How to prepare

• Follow your usual routine on the day; don't try to "catch up" on sleep with a nap
• Avoid tea, coffee and cola after lunch
• No alcohol on the day of the study
• Take your regular medicines unless told otherwise, and tell us about any sleeping pills
• Wash your hair and avoid oils or gels, as they interfere with sensors
• Remove nail polish from one finger for the oxygen clip
• For a lab study, carry comfortable night clothes and anything you need for the morning

Most people worry they won't be able to sleep with wires on. In practice, the vast majority sleep enough for a useful result.

Reading the report

The main figure is the AHI (apnea-hypopnea index), the number of breathing pauses and shallow-breathing episodes per hour of sleep:

• Below 5: normal
• 5 to 15: mild sleep apnea
• 15 to 30: moderate
• Above 30: severe

The report also shows the lowest oxygen level, how much time was spent with low oxygen, the effect of sleeping position, and, in a lab study, sleep quality and stages.

The number is only part of the story. A person with an AHI of 12 who keeps dozing off while driving needs treatment as much as someone with a higher number and few symptoms. Dr. Bedi goes through the report with you and explains what it means for your treatment.

After the study

Depending on the result, the options include CPAP, weight reduction, positional therapy, an oral appliance, or ENT evaluation for nasal or throat blockage. Follow-up is important: CPAP works only if it is used most nights, and early problems with the mask or pressure are easy to fix if reported.

Clinic timings and contact

Start with a consultation with Dr. Manan Bedi at Booth 194, Sector 20, Panchkula, so the right type of study is chosen for you. The study itself is done through Paras Health, Panchkula. Patients come from Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur and nearby towns. OPD: Monday to Saturday 5–7 PM, Sunday 11 AM–2 PM. Call +91-99280 14284 or book here.