Polygraphy at Neuro Praxis Düsseldorf: Focusing on Sleep and the Autonomic Nervous System

Healthy sleep is the foundation of neurological health. In our practice, we use polygraphy as a modern diagnostic procedure to precisely analyze sleep disorders and their effects on the cardiovascular system and the autonomic nervous system.

1. Areas of Application for Polygraphy
We use this procedure specifically to understand complex connections between sleep and neurological diseases. The focus lies on:

  • Breath-dependent sleep disorders (e.g., respiratory arrests).
  • Polyneuropathies, which are frequently associated with sleep disturbances.
  • Restless Legs Syndrome (unrest in the legs).
  • Detection of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias.
  • Assessment of nocturnal blood pressure changes.

  • 2. Procedure: Comfortable in Your Familiar Environment
    The great advantage of polygraphy is its practical nature. The examination does not take place in an unfamiliar sleep lab, but rather in your own home:

  • Home environment: You sleep in your own bed, which provides particularly realistic results.
  • Portable system: You will receive a compact, body-worn system from us that is easy to put on.
  • Patient-friendly: The examination is suitable for all age groups and does not pose a major burden.

3. What Parameters Are Recorded?
While you sleep, the system continuously records important parameters to provide a complete picture of your nocturnal recovery:

  • ECG & heart rate
  • Respiration & oxygen saturation
  • Eye and leg movements
  • Blood pressure profile

4. Diagnostic Possibilities
By evaluating this data, we can detect diseases at an early stage that often remain hidden during wakefulness:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Reliably detectable even in early stages.
  • Restless Legs Syndrome: Objective recording of leg restlessness.
  • Cardiovascular abnormalities: Detection of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., extrasystoles) or hypertension.
  • Non-Dipping: Identification of a lack of nocturnal blood pressure reduction.

  • 5. Focus: Autonomic Functional Disorders
    Polygraphy is of particular importance in our practice for examining the vegetative nervous system. A lack of nocturnal blood pressure reduction (non-dipping) is often a key indicator of an autonomic functional disorder. This is frequently caused by impaired baroreflex function. We perform targeted diagnostic testing to treat these regulatory disorders and thereby minimize long-term risks to your cardiovascular system.

Summary: Polygraphy is a versatile and patient-friendly method for the comprehensive investigation of sleep disorders and autonomic regulatory disturbances. It enables us to perform exact diagnostics under real-life conditions.

Do you have questions about your sleep or have you noticed nocturnal restlessness? Please feel free to contact us to discuss whether polygraphy would be beneficial for you.