sleep-laboratory

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

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The causes of sleep disorders are examined more closely in the sleep laboratory. Especially in the case of persistent sleep disorders, for which no physical or mental underlying disease can be determined as the cause, it makes sense for the patient to stay overnight in a sleep laboratory for clarification. Read more about what happens in a sleep laboratory.

What is a sleep laboratory?

A sleep laboratory is a special patient room in a clinic where people with insomnia can stay overnight and are electronically monitored throughout the night (polysomnography, i.e. records of their entire sleep). Monitoring and recordings take place in an adjoining room.

When does an examination in the sleep laboratory make sense?

An examination in the sleep laboratory is carried out to clarify sleep disorders more precisely. It is particularly useful for persistent sleep disorders that cannot be explained by underlying physical or mental illnesses or remedied by treating such illnesses.

What examinations are carried out in the sleep laboratory?

Sleep is an extremely complex state controlled by the brain that does not proceed uniformly, but in different stages:

Transition from waking to sleeping
Light sleep
Deep sleep
Dream sleep (REM sleep)

The individual phases usually alternate several times over the course of the night. They are precisely analyzed using polysomnography. The brain activity (sleep EEG) and various body functions are examined:

Electrodes that are attached to the patient's head and chin record brain activity during sleep - the so-called sleep EEG (electroencephalogram) is recorded.
The eye movements, which are different in the different sleep phases, are registered and provide information about dream and deep sleep phases.
Breathing through your mouth and nose will be monitored to see if you have sleep apnea syndrome. Breathing stops several times for a few seconds to minutes. Taking a breath after an apnea phase is often associated with heavy and irregular snoring. The effort required to breathe is measured using stretch sensors in straps that are placed over the chest and abdomen.
For patients with known sleep apnea syndrome, a breathing mask for CPAP therapy (continuous positive airway pressure) can be adapted in the sleep laboratory: The airways are stabilized with a slight positive pressure - from the nose to the windpipe. The breathing mask can either only cover the nose or also the mouth.
Muscle tension, leg movements and body position during sleep are also registered. This is how you can determine whether you have restless legs syndrome - a strong urge to move in the legs caused by a disorder of nerve function.
The oxygen saturation of the blood is measured with a sensor on the earlobe or on the index finger.
The heart activity is recorded by means of an EKG (electrocardiogram).
Occasionally, a video recording is made (with the patient's separate consent) in order to document particular behavioral problems during sleep.

What are the risks of an examination in the sleep laboratory?

Before an examination in the sleep laboratory, you can have a detailed discussion with the performing doctors and the staff in the clinic, in which you can clarify any open questions. The question of whether you can sleep with all the wiring on your body is probably the most frequently asked question. It has been shown, however, that after a relatively short time you get used to all of this and still have a relatively normal sleep - even if it can't be quite the same as at home in your own bed, of course.

The day before the examination in the sleep laboratory with polysomnography, you should not drink caffeinated drinks such as coffee, black tea or cola. You should also avoid sleeping during the day. You should also have freshly washed, dry hair so that the electrodes for the sleep EEG can be attached to the head.

What happens after the examination?

After the examination in the sleep laboratory, it takes some time until all the collected data are evaluated. The examining doctor will then talk to you and explain the results to you. If the data collected in the sleep laboratory result in recommendations for a therapy, your family doctor will discuss these with you.

Occasionally, after a night in the sleep laboratory, an additional examination the next day may be necessary in order to assess drowsiness, any sleep disorders that may be present and possible therapy methods. In this multiple sleep latency test, a delay in falling asleep (i.e. the degree of sleepiness or sleep pressure) is recorded. In this test, you should take a nap every two hours throughout the day, which is recorded with the same technical devices as night sleep.

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