What to expect if your doctor orders a polysomnogram.

If your doctor has recommended you have a polysomnogram or overnight sleep study it can leave you wondering "what is a sleep study and what in the world is that other word?" Not to worry; we'll explain it all to you here."  'Poly' means many channels or multi-channel, while 'gram' means recording and 'somno' means during sleep. In other words, you will have a test made while you sleep to determine many factors such as: if you sleep, how you sleep, for how long, and what's going on with your body while you are sleeping. These results let the physician determine how best to treat you and your sleep symptoms.