How To Prepare For Your Sleep Study
If you cannot get a good night's sleep or your doctor believes you have some type of sleeping disorder, they may have you undergo a sleep study. A sleep study occurs in a lab or a sleep clinic, but some can also be done at home. The type of study you have will depend on what your doctor prescribes. A sleep study provides specific data about your sleeping patterns for your doctor to evaluate. This study can help diagnose any sleeping disorders and provide you with treatment options. Here are some things you should know about preparing for a sleep study:
Avoid Stimulants
On the day of your sleep study, you need to avoid eating, drinking, or taking any substances that contain caffeine. This means you should avoid soda that contains caffeine, coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and the like. If you indulge in any caffeine or other stimulants, it will be difficult for you to properly sleep, and your sleep study results may not be accurate.
Get Yourself Ready for the Evening
Prior to the sleep study, make sure you avoid napping during the day. This will keep you from getting adequate sleep that night. Take a warm shower or bath to help you relax. After you bathe, do not apply any type of oils or sprays. Do not apply any hair products. All of these substances may interfere with the equipment that you will be connected to during your sleep study.
Bring What You Need for the Night
If you are doing your sleep study in a clinic or sleep lab, bring along the items you will need with you to make yourself more comfortable. Think about the packing process like you were staying overnight in a hotel. You need comfortable clothing to sleep in, a robe, glasses and contact case, light toiletries, toothbrush and toothpaste, and so on. You also need to pack a set of clothes to leave in the next day.
Ask About Medication Ahead of Time
If you take any type of medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, you need to ask your doctor if you should take it on the day of your sleep study. Certain medications can interfere with sleep and impact the sleep study results. You might be asked to avoid taking some of your medication on the day of the study. However, bring your medication to the sleep study with you so you can take it when you wake up the next morning.
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