Getting a poor night’s sleep is something almost everyone has experienced. If your partner often has trouble sleeping through the night or feeling rested, their doctor might recommend an overnight sleep study to find out why.

This article explains what an overnight sleep study is and what you can expect during your partner’s visit to a sleep center.

What Is an Overnight Sleep Study?

A sleep study — also called polysomnography — is a way to check how the body functions during sleep. The test helps diagnose sleep-related health conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome. People who often feel tired or have OSA symptoms, such as loud snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep, may be referred for an overnight sleep study.

Sleep studies are often conducted at sleep centers, but they may also be done at hospital departments that treat sleep disorders. During the study, a healthcare team uses different sensors and equipment to see how the body’s systems work together during sleep.

During a sleep study, a healthcare team uses sensors and equipment to see how the body’s systems work together during sleep.

Sleep study monitoring usually includes:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) — Sensors on the head that record brain activity and detect sleep stages or disruptions
• Electro-oculography (EOG) — Sensors near the eyes to track eye movements, which indicate sleep stage
• Electromyography (EMG) — Sensors on the face and legs that record muscle movements and help identify sleep disorders
• Electrocardiography (ECG) — A chest sensor that monitors the heart’s electrical activity, including heart rate and rhythm, during sleep
• Breathing sensors — Devices near the nose and mouth to measure airflow, plus a chest-and-belly belt that tracks breathing effort
• Pulse oximeter — A clip on the finger that measures blood oxygen levels, which can show if oxygen levels drop due to OSA

The sleeping room will have a video and sound equipment so the sleep team can watch and listen from another room during the study. Afterward, a doctor reviews the results to help make a diagnosis.

Preparing for Your Partner’s Sleep Study

Learning that your partner needs a polysomnogram may leave you feeling unsure about what to expect. Understanding what sleep studies involve can help ease your worries and allow you to support your partner throughout the process. Here are nine details about an overnight sleep study.

1. The Sleep Study Will Take Place During Their Usual Sleeping Hours

Most sleep studies happen during the night because that’s when most people sleep. However, if your partner works a night shift and usually sleeps during the day, their study will likely be scheduled during their normal sleep hours. Your partner or their healthcare provider can coordinate with the sleep lab to set a time that fits their usual routine.

2. They’ll Need To Avoid Sleep Disrupters

A sleep study aims to observe how someone’s body functions during sleep. Since many people don’t sleep as well in a sleep lab as they do at home, sleep centers often ask people to avoid anything that could make falling asleep even harder. Your partner may be asked to avoid:

• Food or drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate
• Daytime naps
• Changes to their usual daily routine

Most sleep centers ask that people steer clear of certain foods, drinks, and behaviors for at least eight hours before the study — perhaps starting after lunch for an overnight study.

3. They’ll Be Asked To Bathe and Groom Beforehand

Your partner will likely be asked to bathe or shower before their sleep study — clean, bare skin helps the sensors stick and work better. Your partner may need to adjust their normal bathing routine and skip using:

• Lotions, creams, or oils on the skin
• Hair products like gels or sprays
• Nail polish or artificial nails (which can interfere with finger sensors)

4. They’ll Need To Talk With Their Doctor First

Before a sleep study, it’s important for your partner to touch base with their primary care provider — especially to go over their current medications. Their provider can advise on whether to continue taking regular medications prior to their study. In general, your partner should continue with their treatment plan unless their doctor says otherwise.

They should also tell their provider about any skin allergies so that potentially irritating sensor adhesives can be avoided.

5. They’ll Need To Pack an Overnight Bag

Since your partner will be spending the night, they’ll be told to bring personal care items for bedtime and the morning after. These might include pajamas, a toothbrush and toothpaste, makeup remover, and other toiletries. They’ll also need a change of clothes for the next day. The sleep lab staff can provide a full list of what to bring.

Your partner should pack any personal items needed for an overnight stay, such as pajamas, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and makeup remover.

6. You May Be Able To Stay With Them

If you’d like to stay with your partner during the study, you’ll have to check in with the sleep lab beforehand. Spouse, partner, and caregiver policies differ among sleep clinics. Some labs ask partners or family members to leave before the sleep study begins, while others may be willing to arrange for you to stay.

If staying overnight is allowed, you might need to sleep in a separate room to avoid affecting the results. However, if you’re your partner’s caregiver, the sleep lab might ask you to stay in the same room — but in a separate bed or chair — so you can provide assistance if needed.

Ask the sleep lab when the study will end and your partner can leave. Some studies may conclude as early as 5 a.m., while others continue until 6 a.m. or later. Your partner will need time to be disconnected from the equipment and complete paperwork before going home.

7. A Healthcare Team Will Be Available During the Study

A team of professionals, such as nurses and medical technicians, will monitor your partner while they sleep. A sleep technician will show them to their room so they can get ready for bed. After that, the staff will attach the sensors and make sure they’re working.

During the study, the healthcare team will monitor your partner using these sensors, as well as audio and video monitors in the room. The staff will wake your partner if a loose sensor needs to be reapplied or a medical issue arises. If your partner needs to get up to use the bathroom, a technician will assist them.

In the morning, the team will remove the sensors and check in with your partner before they leave.

8. A Specialist Will Review the Study Results

The data gathered during the sleep study will be sent to a sleep medicine specialist or a pulmonologist (doctor who specializes in disorders of the respiratory system). These healthcare providers are trained to interpret sleep study data and identify patterns linked to sleep disorders.

If your partner is being tested for OSA, a sleep specialist will use the data to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. Your partner should be contacted within a few days to schedule a follow-up visit to go over the test results.

9. They’ll Discuss the Results and Next Steps With Their Doctor

At the follow-up appointment, your partner will find out if they’ve been diagnosed with OSA or another sleep disorder.

If they have OSA, their provider will recommend a treatment plan. This may include using a device that helps them breathe, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine. To find the right fit, your partner may need to try out different machines or mask styles.

If your partner is ultimately diagnosed with OSA, their provider will recommend a treatment plan.

Other treatment options include oral devices that gently shift the jaw, medications, physical therapy for the upper airway muscles, and sometimes surgery.

Adjusting to a wearable device can be challenging — for both your bed partner and you. Try to be patient and supportive during the transition. Remember that once your partner’s OSA is treated effectively, you’ll likely both see improved sleep quality.

Join the Conversation

On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Was there anything that surprised you about a sleep clinic visit? Let others know in the comments below.