Doctors have proven that if a person sleeps for at least seven hours in a natural, full, restful sleep, then during this time the body manages to rest and prepare for a new day. In this case, the moment of awakening does not bother, and there is a feeling of well-being and good mood.
In addition, during sleep in the body of people there are some processes that are important for life. It is this fact that provides doctors with material for studying the state of sleep and the changes in the human body that occur at this time. One of the specially developed methods for this is polysomnography. What is it and what is its task, we will consider further in this article.
Description and purpose of the procedure
To conduct polysomnography, the presence of the subject in a special laboratory is required. Instrument data can provide information for a medical report. What is polysomnography? This is a procedure during which special devices that monitor the state of various organs are connected to a sleeping patient.
The devices used for monitoring are as follows:
- Electroencephalography. Electrodes mounted on the scalp transmit signals about the wave activity of the brain, which appear in a graph. The method helps to identify the possibility of seizures and the phase of sleep.
- Electrooculography. The study provides information on eye movement. That is, with its help determine the phases of sleep, their duration and the number of interruptions.
- Thermistors. Using heat-sensitive devices showing how much air passes through the mouth and nose, the moments of shallow breathing (hypopnea) and its stop (apnea) are examined.
- Pulse oximetry is a measurement of the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream and its saturation with this gas.
- Electrocardiography Using electrodes attached to the sternum, the device transmits electrical pulses from the heart muscle, displayed on the graph - cardiogram. This method measures cardiac activity (arrhythmias, blood pressure).
Often, in order to make polysomnography more informative, additional studies of limb activity and latency of the sleep process are connected in laboratories.
Features of the study
Doctors include disturbance in the sleep process among alarming symptoms, and sometimes even dangerous ones. After all, it can lead to disorders that directly affect the quality of human life. Such a highly accurate diagnosis is important not only for adults, but also for the younger generation. Polysomnography for children is carried out similarly to the procedure for older patients.
Features of the procedure are as follows:
- In a laboratory, the subject is cut off from external stimuli, and therefore these devices provide valuable information to the doctor about disorders in the body.
- The use of modern high-frequency devices. They are installed before bedtime and their number can reach several tens.
- Using special programs, computers process data, which is then analyzed by a somnologist and makes a diagnosis.
- Data is stored on electronic media and used for comparative studies.
- The examination is carried out all night, and sometimes several nights, if the patient requires adaptation to the conditions of the laboratory.
Reviews of polysomnography testify to its harmlessness so much that doctors allow a study in the first three months of pregnancy.
The relevance of the study using PSG
Somnologists all over the world recognize such a study as polysomnography. What is it for doctors of other specialties? This is the most promising opportunity to obtain the most complete picture and comprehensive information about the state of the human body as a whole, without the influence of an external component. This is important for the correct diagnosis and, accordingly, treatment:
- ENT doctor may decide on surgical treatment of snoring and various ENT disorders;
- neurologists use the results of the study to treat neurotic disorders, insomnia and other pathologies of an appropriate nature;
- psychiatrists and psychotherapists, based on the results, identify problems leading to sleep disturbance;
- cardiologists use an examination to identify the causes of disturbances in the cardiovascular system up to the cancellation of certain operations;
- it is important for narcologists to plan anesthesia correctly;
- pulmonologists correct respiratory failure.
Research is also important for doctors of other specialties.
If the question arises, where to make polysomnography, you can turn to the Internet resources or to your therapist who will give advice and referral for examination.
Grounds for PSG
The main reasons why doctors prescribe this study are:
- snoring during sleep;
- conversation in a dream and night walking;
- prolonged insomnia for no apparent reason;
- persistent drowsiness;
- past craniocerebral trauma;
- obesity;
- unclear heart disorders;
- nightly fear;
- nervous awakening;
- suspicion of mental disorders;
- bed-wetting;
- tooth grinding at night;
- apnea;
- epilepsy;
- developmental delay;
- tick and stutter.
At its discretion, the attending physician may prescribe an examination for other indications.
The procedure is carried out in all major cities. Polysomnography for a child in Moscow can be done in the Children's Health Centers, and for adults in various clinics where there is appropriate equipment, there are about forty of them. Prices for the procedure range from ten to thirty thousand rubles.
Contraindications
Due to the fact that the polysomnography method is not associated with intervention in the internal organs of a person, the method is not limited to the use of any contraindications.
This also applies to pediatric diagnostics, since sensors and electrodes do not cause pain or discomfort.
In order to avoid distorted results, there are only warnings about postponing the examination in case of:
- acute respiratory viral infections;
- acute infectious diseases of other origin;
- exacerbations of various chronic diseases.
So patients should not be scared about the procedure. Only not very low prices can scare them away.
Polysomnography in St. Petersburg can be done in any large clinical hospital, the cost of the procedure varies from four to twelve thousand rubles.
What the study will show
Examination of a person’s night sleep can reveal the following pathologies:
- Apnea is an involuntary sudden stop of breathing in a dream. It is divided into central and obstructive. Polysomnography is the only accurate method in this case.
- Disorders of the heart muscle - arrhythmias.
- A sharp abrupt change in blood pressure.
- Spasmodic disorders in muscle tissue.
- Violations in the blood circulation system.
- Pathological changes in brain activity.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of polysomnology in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. According to the results of the examination, indications are assigned and questions regarding operations are resolved.
Also, such a study helps to identify the causes of spasms of cerebral vessels.
Examination preparation
In order for the survey results to be as correct as possible, it is necessary to observe some points of preparation before it:
- On the eve of the date of research exclude active walks, sports and hard work.
- For two weeks before the procedure, it is necessary to ensure compliance with the correct mode of activity and rest.
- If there is a constant craving for sleep, before the examination it is undesirable to sleep during the day, even a minimal amount of time.
- Before the procedure itself, you need to wash your head and body, put on clean, comfortable linen.
- For several days before the examination, the use of caffeine and alcoholic beverages of any strength, the use of tranquilizers, stimulants and sleeping pills are prohibited. Allowed to use medications that constantly provide vital activity according to indications.
Carrying out
The procedure is performed at night. The patient should sleep 8-10 hours in a comfortable environment. Soothing and sleeping pills are contraindicated, as they distort the result. If the examination is carried out in a hospital, you must bring the necessary personal items.
If a person is tormented by daytime drowsiness, then the doctor may recommend conducting several short-time somnographs.
It is difficult to relax, distract from the multiple connected electrodes for those patients who do not know what polysomnography is. This is a completely safe procedure and it is important in making the correct diagnosis.
The examination includes: EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG, pulse oximetry, diagnostics of the air flow that is created during breathing, recording sounds made during sleep, and video monitoring.
Additionally, parameters of body temperature, the digestive system and the reaction to changes in lighting can be investigated.
The examination is carried out in a calm environment, as close as possible to home. The room is equipped with a separate toilet, video and audio. When the patient is prepared for bed, electrodes connected to a computer are placed on the body. Monitoring is carried out throughout the night, and in the morning, as a rule, they are allowed to go home. Restrictions after the procedure are not required, it is recommended to live in the usual rhythm.
Procedure cost
Polysomnography is a complex high-tech procedure. The cost of the examination depends on the venue and other additional services provided in the hospital.
The price is also affected by the level of service:
- staff qualifications;
- completeness of the results;
- computer equipment;
- conditions of stay in a specific place.
Much depends on the city in which the survey is planned. The standard procedure will cost:
- In Moscow clinics, prices range from 10 to 40 thousand rubles. Patients are advised to familiarize themselves with the list of services provided in advance and get advice from a somnologist (which is often paid separately). Examination can be carried out at home. The cost of this option varies from 20 to 30 thousand rubles.
- In St. Petersburg, polysomnography costs a little cheaper, for example, the hospital of L. G. Sokolov provides a service for 8.5 thousand rubles. Costs in other clinics range from 4 to 13 thousand rubles.
- Bringing research in Minsk to the Center for Healthy Sleep will cost about 5 thousand rubles. (or 140 Belarusian rubles). At the same time, the cost of the procedure for non-residents must be clarified by telephone.
Polysomnography alternatives
For some patients, polysomnography in Moscow is a rather expensive examination. Moreover, as an alternative, doctors offer other research methods using fewer sensors. Only the attending doctor can evaluate the necessity and importance of the procedure.
These include:
- Cardio-respiratory monitoring. This procedure involves the study of sleep disorders and is prescribed in cases of snoring and the occurrence of apnea attacks. Installed sensors record the heartbeat and breathing of a person during sleep. Such monitoring can be done at home or on an outpatient basis.
- Computer pulse oximetry. The procedure is designed to determine the amount of oxygen that contains arterial hemoglobin. The data obtained help in time to identify respiratory failure.
Conclusion
From the foregoing, it is clear that the polysomnography procedure is a safe and extremely informative examination. It makes it possible to correctly diagnose and make specialists operative decisions on treatment regimens.
Despite the high cost, you should not neglect such an examination for the sake of your own health and the health of your children. After all, sleep pathologies are dangerous with serious complications. Consulting a somnologist and conducting a survey can timely detect deviations in human health.