What is the primary purpose of polysomnography?

The primary purpose of polysomnography is to diagnose and monitor sleep disorders. This comprehensive sleep study involves the simultaneous recording of various physiological parameters, including brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, and respiratory patterns, while the patient sleeps. By analyzing these measurements, healthcare professionals can identify specific sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, and parasomnias.

This process helps in understanding the quality and patterns of sleep, which is essential in providing appropriate treatment and management plans for individuals experiencing sleep-related issues. The detailed data collected during polysomnography is crucial to correlate sleep patterns with symptoms reported by the patient, leading to accurate diagnoses and improved patient outcomes.