Receive a Sleep Study in Southern California

A sleep study can help diagnose sleep disorders and other problems. During a sleep test, your provider evaluates how your body behaves during sleep. This may take place in a sleep center or in your own home.

The caring doctors at Dignity Health Southern California offer complete neurological care to diagnose a range of sleeping problems at these state-of-the-art locations:

• St. Bernardine Medical Center

 If you’d like to schedule a sleep study in Southern California, Find a Doctor online.

Why We Perform Sleep Studies

Your doctor may recommend a sleep test if you have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or if you feel excessively tired during the day. Chronic sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, increase your risk of developing heart disease and other conditions.

You might be a good candidate for a sleep study if you have one or more of these symptoms:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Waking in the middle of the night for prolonged periods or waking earlier than desired
• Crawling or tingling feeling in your legs, particularly when you are relaxing or dozing off
• Jerking leg or arm movements as you sleep
• Chronic snoring or interruptions in breathing as you snore
• Ongoing daytime sleepiness

What to Expect from a Sleep Study

You’ll likely spend a night or day at a sleep center. In some cases, you may be given special monitoring equipment that you can wear at home while you sleep. Before your sleep study, your doctor will ask you to avoid caffeine or alcohol.

Types of sleep studies include:

• Portable home sleep monitor — a type of at-home sleep study
• Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) — a test to assess your ability to stay awake during the day
• Polysomnogram (PSG) — a test to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea
• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) — a daytime test typically performed after a PSG

During a sleep study, a technician or sleep specialist places sticky electrodes on your body. These record your breathing, movements, and blood oxygen levels.

If your test is performed at a sleep center, you’ll be able to go home as soon as the test is complete. If you have it at home, you’ll need to return the monitoring equipment to your doctor to receive a diagnosis.

What Your Sleep Diagnosis Means

Your provider will let you know your results typically within a few weeks. Your diagnosis will guide your treatment options.

Common conditions diagnosed with a sleep study include:

• Restless legs syndrome — sensations often relieved by moving your legs
• Narcolepsy — sudden and unexpected daytime sleepiness
• Sleep apnea — multiple pauses in breathing

Together with your doctor, you can create a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs.