Below factors would increase the chance of suffering from a sleep disorder:

• Older age
• Male gender
• Obesity
• Craniofacial and upper airway abnormalities
• Smoking
• Family history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea
• Nasal congestion regardless of the causes

If you experience the below symptoms, you may consider going for a sleep study:

• Being so sleepy during the day that it gets in the way of the normal things you do, such as work or school
• Feeling tired in the morning
• Having trouble concentrating
• Waking up with a headache
• Your partner notices that while you sleep, you:

• • Stop breathing
  • Often snore loudly
  • Gasp or choke
  • Toss and turn

General speaking, sleep test could be done at home or in hospital.

It takes a night to do the test, and you may go back to your everyday activities on the next day.

During the test, surface electrodes will be put on your face and scalp that monitors your heart, lung, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Most people fall asleep with little trouble. Similarly, more portable equipment is available for home testing, especially for less complicated cases or situations.

The next morning after the sleep study, the sensors attached to your skin will be taken off, and you may go back to your everyday activities. It takes the sleep specialist some time to go over the hundreds of pages of data from the study. Once your doctor reviews them, you’ll meet to talk about the findings and the next steps.

Sleep-study in progress

• Maintain your daily activities and avoid taking naps, unless it is part of your usual routine, on the day of the study.
• Avoid consuming food and beverages containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and coke after lunch. Also, limit water intake after dinner.
• Do not have any beverages containing alcohol within six hours of your bedtime. However, you may do so if it is part of your usual routine, please inform the technician in advance.
• Take a shower or bath, wash and dry your hair before the sleep study. Please do not use any hair products. 
  • For gentlemen: Shave before the study (beards and moustaches are acceptable). 
  • For ladies: No cosmetics. Please remove nail polish, nail stickers or other decorations on your fingernail.
• Please inform your doctor if you are under any medication and the prescribed dosage. Please do not take sleeping pills as sleep-enhancing medication may affect the outcome of your study.
• Please wear comfortable sleeping clothing for the sleep study. A shirt which opens in the front is most preferable.