Sleep studies, or Polysomnograms (PSG) are performed overnight and are used to diagnose sleep disorders, which typically include: Insomina, Sleep Apnea, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, Restless Legs Syndrome, Narcolepsy.

Insomnia is defined as trouble getting to sleep, frequent awakenings with inability to fall back asleep, early morning awakenings, and feeling very tired after a night of sleep.

Sleep apnea - usually caused by a blockage in the nose, mouth or throat. Breathing may stop for 10 seconds or longer. Those with sleep apnea usually snore loudly and are very tired during the day. [ more ]

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder - also called Nocturnal Myoclonus, is characterized by involuntary leg jerking that occurs during sleep. This jerking or twitching generally occurs every 20 to 40 seconds and can last from minutes to hours. The movement often causes disruptions in sleep patterns, resulting in restlessness and unrefreshing sleep.

Restless Legs Syndrome - is an uncomfortable, strange and sometimes extremely painful sensation that often occurs in the legs just prior to falling asleep. The sensation is usually alleviated by movement of the legs. People with Restless Legs Syndrome often have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder as well.

Narcolepsy - consists of many different symptoms. The four most common are: excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplelxy, sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations. Multiple Sleep Latency Test consists of 4 or 5 20-minute naps taken about every two hours. The test is performed during the day to determine excessive daytime sleepiness. The results of this test are effective in determining a diagnosis in people who have severe problems with excessive daytime sleepiness such as Narcolepsy.