•Continue to eat and take your medications as you normally would, and bring a list of these medications with you.
•If you are on any sleeping tablets please inform the technician so he/she can make a note of it.
•Bring some comfy pyjamas

•The technician will measure and clean your scalp.
•The technician will attach little discs to your scalp to monitor sleep activity, wrap a belt around you to measure breathing movements and attach sensors to measure your heart rate, oxygen levels, snoring and limb movements.

•You won’t feel any pain during the test. Sometimes the equipment may feel a little uncomfortable, but once you settle down for the night, it will feel fine.
•You can sleep as you would normally do at home on any side.Do not worry about the equipment becoming detached when you sleep as the equipment is secured well and there is a technician on call should any problems arise.

•After the test the discs and sensors will be removed using warm water and some acetone.
•Your hair and face may be sticky due to the paste and you would need to wash your hair thereafter.
•You can resume normal activities as there are no side effects.
•The test is then interpreted by a Neurologist and a Report will be made and sent to the doctor that referred you.
•The test is then interpreted by a Neurologist and a report will be sent to the doctor that referred you.

•For home based testing, the patient presents to our sleep lab in the afternoon.
•The technician will connect the portable device and do a detailed demo on how to switch it on and reconnect it. You will be provided with an instructive video and if you still have difficulties or questions you can call our technician at any time for advice.

•Obstructive seep apnoea is when the tongue, palate or throat muscles block the airway during sleep causing you to stop breathing. This can lower the level of oxygen in your blood and cause a buildup of carbon dioxide.
•Your brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly arouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.
•This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night long. These disruptions impair your ability to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep, and you'll probably feel sleepy during your waking hours.
•People with obstructive sleep apnea might not be aware of their interrupted sleep. Many people with this type of sleep apnea don't realize they haven't slept well all night.

This is the most common sleep disorder. In South Africa it is estimated that approximately 20% of people between age 30 and 69 years suffer from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea!