What monitoring technique is essential in diagnosing sleep apnea?

Polysomnography (PSG) is a comprehensive test used to diagnose sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. It involves a nighttime study that records various physiological parameters during sleep, such as brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, respiratory effort, airflow, and blood oxygen levels. This holistic approach allows clinicians to observe the various factors contributing to sleep disturbances and to establish a definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The significance of PSG lies in its ability to provide detailed insights into how well a person sleeps and the nature of any breathing irregularities that occur during sleep. This makes it an essential tool in identifying both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, which may require different treatment approaches. Therefore, PSG stands out as the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea due to its thorough assessment capabilities.