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To help accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, a UT Southwestern Medical Center sleep physician may prescribe a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram (PSG). This is a medical procedure that provides a diagnostic evaluation of one’s sleep patterns.
While the patient sleeps, the physician records the activity of several systems, such as the patient’s breathing, cardiovascular, muscle and neurological functions. A series of measurements are taken which can help determine whether any medical conditions are interrupting sleep and causing fatigue during the day. The record is invaluable for helping the physician determine the source of the patient’s condition and how to treat it.
On the night of the study, a sleep technologist places several small sensors on the patient’s scalp, face, chest, abdomen and legs. This is a painless, non-invasive procedure. The sensors monitor the patient’s eye movements, muscle activity, brain waves, heart rate, airflow, oxygen levels and respiration throughout the night.
The patient is taken to a private room to sleep. From a separate room, a sleep technologist monitors and digitally records the patient’s sleep patterns. The referring physician will receive a report from a UT Southwestern sleep specialist within a few days of the study, outlining the findings of the diagnostic evaluation and any treatment recommendations.
