When you get a PSG results, a polysomnography test that records brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing during sleep. It's the gold standard for diagnosing sleep problems. Unlike a quick doctor’s visit, this overnight test catches what you can’t feel—like when your breathing stops dozens of times an hour or your legs jerk awake without you knowing. These aren’t just numbers on a chart; they’re clues to why you’re exhausted, irritable, or waking up with headaches.
Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep shows up clearly in PSG results through drops in blood oxygen and pauses in airflow. If your AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) is over 15, you’re likely dealing with moderate to severe sleep apnea—and that’s not just about snoring. It’s linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke. Insomnia, trouble falling or staying asleep despite having the chance shows up differently: less deep sleep, more time awake after falling asleep, and irregular brain wave patterns. These aren’t just "bad sleep"—they’re measurable brain and body responses that doctors use to pick the right treatment.
PSG results also catch other issues like restless legs syndrome, an urge to move your legs that worsens at night, or narcolepsy, where you suddenly fall asleep during the day. The test tracks leg movements, eye motion, muscle tone, and even heart rhythm. You might think it’s just about sleep quality, but it’s really about how your whole body functions when you’re supposed to be resting. Many people get diagnosed only after years of feeling tired, because their doctor never ordered the test—or they didn’t know what the results meant.
What you do next depends on what the PSG shows. If it’s sleep apnea, CPAP therapy might be recommended. If it’s insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) works better than pills long-term. If your legs are moving all night, iron levels or nerve meds might help. The numbers don’t lie—but they only matter if you understand them. That’s why the posts below break down real cases: how one man’s PSG revealed his daytime fatigue was from untreated sleep apnea, how a woman’s abnormal brain waves led to a narcolepsy diagnosis, and why some people get normal results but still feel awful—because not all sleep problems show up on a standard test.
Polysomnography is the most comprehensive sleep study used to diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnias. Learn what happens during the test, how results are interpreted, and why it's still the gold standard.
