Sleep Study in Lahore:
Understanding Polysomnography
What happens while you sleep can help explain how you feel when you wake.
A sleep study records sleep and breathing overnight. This guide explains the Level 2 home study offered at Australian Polyclinic, how to prepare and what your report can tell you.
Sleep assessment with Dr G Sarwar Chaudhry , MBBS, FRACP (Australia), FCCP (USA).
Medically reviewed and approved by Dr G Sarwar Chaudhry , MBBS, FRACP (Australia), FCCP (USA) · .
What is polysomnography?
Polysomnography combines several recordings to show when you are asleep and how your breathing and other body signals change during sleep. Sensors record information; they do not deliver electrical treatment. Adhesive or sensor contact can occasionally irritate the skin.
Sleep has two main phases: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). NREM includes stages N1, N2 and N3. A study with brain-wave recordings helps identify these stages and brief sleep disruptions called arousals.
When might it help?
Loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, waking with gasping, or persistent daytime sleepiness may prompt assessment for obstructive sleep apnoea .
Start with the clinical question
Not every sleep concern needs an overnight test. Insomnia and restless legs are often assessed primarily through a clinical history. Explore our sleep-medicine consultations if you are unsure where to begin.
What does “Level 2 home sleep study” mean?
Australian Polyclinic offers unattended Level 2 home polysomnography using a SOMNOmedics recording system. The team fits and explains the equipment, and you sleep at home. A technologist is not present to monitor you continuously or replace a loose sensor during the night.
| Assessment | Main distinction |
|---|---|
| Attended laboratory polysomnography | Detailed sleep recording with a technologist present; additional monitoring can be selected for the clinical question. |
| Level 2 home polysomnography | Includes sleep-stage signals as well as breathing measurements, without continuous bedside supervision. |
| Limited home breathing test | Usually records breathing and oxygen without EEG-based sleep staging. |
| Overnight oximetry | Records oxygen and pulse trends; it does not provide a full sleep-stage or breathing-event assessment. |
A home study is not suitable for every patient. Significant coexisting illness or concern about another sleep disorder may require an attended study or different investigation. See the sleep laboratory service page for clinic arrangements.
What does the equipment record?
Sleep and arousals
Scalp electrodes record brain activity (EEG). Eye-movement and chin-muscle signals help distinguish wakefulness, NREM and REM sleep.
Airflow and effort
Breathing sensors and chest/abdominal belts help identify interruptions in airflow and whether breathing effort continues.
Oxygen and heart activity
A pulse oximeter follows oxygen saturation. ECG electrodes record heart electrical activity during the study.
Leg movements
Leg electrodes record muscle activity. Repeated movements need clinical interpretation; their presence alone does not diagnose restless legs syndrome.
How to prepare for your sleep study
Follow the instructions supplied with your booking. Tell the team about oxygen or CPAP use, regular medicines, skin sensitivities and any difficulty handling the equipment.
On the day
- Keep your usual routine and avoid daytime naps unless advised otherwise.
- Avoid alcohol and afternoon/evening caffeine; confirm the clinic’s timing instructions.
- Wash and dry your hair. Avoid hair oils, gels and creams on sensor sites.
- Wear comfortable sleep clothing that allows sensors to be fitted.
- Ask about nail polish or artificial nails if they may affect the oxygen sensor.
Medicines and practical details
- Bring your medicine list, referral and previous sleep reports.
- Do not stop prescribed medicines independently.
- Ask specifically about sleeping tablets; do not take an extra sedative to force sleep.
- Ask whether local hair trimming is needed; avoid extensive shaving without instructions.
- Confirm fitting time, equipment return, fees and when to expect results.
What happens on the study night?
Equipment fitting and explanation
The team places the sensors, checks the signals and explains starting the recording, moving safely, bathroom visits and what to do if a lead comes loose.
Sleep at home
Follow your usual bedtime as closely as possible. Keep the sensors in place and the equipment dry. Note unusual symptoms, prolonged wakefulness or equipment problems to discuss when you return it.
Remove and return as instructed
Follow the supplied removal instructions, pack every component carefully and return the recorder at the agreed time.
Review the recording and plan
The recording is assessed for signal quality and relevant findings. Your clinician discusses what the results mean and whether further testing or treatment is appropriate.
If a sensor detaches, follow the instructions demonstrated by the team. Do not improvise repairs. Report any lost signals, because a technically inadequate study may need repeating.
What do the results mean?
A report may describe total sleep time, sleep stages, arousals, oxygen patterns, breathing events and limb movements. The apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) expresses the number of apnoeas and hypopnoeas per hour of sleep.
| AHI (events/hour) | Usual category |
|---|---|
| Below 5 | Below the usual adult OSA threshold; symptoms may still need assessment. |
| 5 to less than 15 | Mild |
| 15 to less than 30 | Moderate |
| 30 or more | Severe |
These bands are for adults. AHI alone does not determine the diagnosis or treatment: symptoms, event type, oxygen changes, other illnesses and recording quality also matter. A limited home test may report a respiratory event index based on monitoring time rather than measured sleep time.
If treatment is recommended, the options depend on the findings and your circumstances. For patients starting positive airway pressure treatment, our sleep team can discuss mask comfort and follow-up.
Sleep study FAQs
Will I be able to sleep with the sensors?
The equipment may feel unfamiliar. A perfect night is not required, but enough reliable sleep and signal data are needed. Tell the team if you slept very little or had equipment problems.
Is a Level 2 home study the same as a watch oxygen test?
No. Level 2 polysomnography includes sleep-stage and breathing recordings. Overnight oximetry records oxygen and pulse trends and answers a more limited question.
Will someone watch the recording live overnight?
The clinic’s Level 2 home study is unattended. Do not assume someone is watching the signals live or will contact you if a sensor detaches.
Does everyone who snores need a sleep study?
No. Symptoms, examination and medical history guide the decision. Witnessed breathing pauses, gasping and daytime sleepiness are reasons to seek a sleep assessment.
Can this study diagnose every sleep disorder?
No. Some conditions need different tests, attended monitoring or specialist assessment. Insomnia and restless legs syndrome are usually assessed primarily through the clinical history.
How much does the study cost, and when will I get the report?
Contact Australian Polyclinic for the current fee, what it includes, equipment arrangements and expected reporting time. Ask whether a results consultation is included or booked separately.
Related sleep care and patient guides
Watch Dr Sarwar’s introduction to sleep studies on YouTube →
Plan your sleep assessment
Tell our team about your symptoms or referral. We can help arrange a consultation and explain the next steps for testing.
First Floor, Building 19, CCA, DHA Phase 5, Lahore.
Clinic: Monday–Saturday, 2–9 pm.
Dr Sarwar’s consultations: 4–8 pm. Sunday closed.
If you are struggling to stay awake, avoid driving and seek medical advice. Routine booking messages are not an emergency service.
References and further reading
- NHLBI: Sleep studies
- NHLBI: Sleep phases and stages
- MedlinePlus: Sleep study and preparation
- AASM clinical practice guideline: diagnostic testing for adult obstructive sleep apnoea
- Sleep Foundation: Understanding the apnoea–hypopnoea index
General patient information. Your study arrangements and care plan depend on your clinical assessment. Many resources use “home sleep test” to mean a limited breathing test; the Level 2 recording described here includes sleep-stage signals.