What happens in a sleep study?
It is normal for different people to need different amounts of sleep. But it can really affect your physical and mental health if you often don't get enough sleep or have trouble falling asleep. Sleep is a complex process that is regulated by processes in our brain. Sleep problems can be caused by many different things and they aren’t always easy to detect. Common causes include emotional stress, physical illness and working night shifts. Outside influences like light or noise can make it difficult to sleep too.
If you’ve had sleep problems for a while, and previous medical examinations and advice haven't helped, a sleep study is usually the next step. In the study, your sleep will be monitored for one or more nights using special instruments. Sleep studies take a bit of time, and are often carried out in a hospital or special sleep center. You will usually need to have a referral from a doctor.