For patients in South Africa

Sleep study in Turkey from South Africa: what it is and when it makes sense

A sleep study, also called polysomnography, is a test that records what happens to your body while you sleep. It is the main way to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea and to understand loud snoring. This page explains what the test involves in İzmir, Turkey, and, honestly, when it is worth doing on a trip from South Africa. The overview is on our sleep study page.

What a sleep study measures

During the study, sensors record several things at once while you sleep:

• Breathing, including pauses and shallow breathing
• Oxygen levels in the blood
• Heart rate
• Brain activity, which shows the stages of sleep
• Other body functions, such as movement

Depending on what you need, the test is done overnight in a sleep laboratory or at home with specialised monitoring equipment. An ENT specialist reviews the results and explains them to you.

Who it is for

A sleep study is usually suggested if you have:

• Loud snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep that someone has noticed
• Heavy tiredness during the day
• Restless or broken sleep
• Suspected obstructive sleep apnoea

Is it worth travelling for?

A sleep study on its own rarely justifies a ten-hour flight. Sleep studies are also available in South Africa, so if testing is all you need, ask your GP about having it done at home and send us the report. Doing the study in Turkey can make sense when:

• You are already planning snoring or sleep apnoea treatment in İzmir, such as tonsillectomy or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, and the surgeon needs up-to-date results
• The ENT specialist wants the test and the examination together before deciding on treatment
• You are combining it with nose treatment such as turbinate reduction

The treatment options that may follow a diagnosis are explained in our snoring and sleep apnoea guide and our ENT surgery guide.

Preparing for the night

Follow your normal routine as closely as you can, and tell the team about any medicines you take, especially sleeping tablets. The team will tell you whether to avoid caffeine or alcohol beforehand. Jet lag can affect sleep, and although İzmir is only one hour ahead of South Africa, a long overnight journey may leave you tired, so ask whether to schedule the test a day or two after you arrive.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Return ticket: book one you can change, in case the specialist recommends further tests or treatment
• Time difference: İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, so check with your scheme first, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

After the test

Ask for the full report and the specialist’s interpretation in writing, and share them with your GP at home. If no treatment follows in Turkey, a doctor in South Africa can use the report to plan care. Facts about the clinic are on the clinic facts page, what our treatment guarantee covers is set out on that page, and how complaints are handled is published on our complaints page.

What we will not do

We will not encourage you to fly from South Africa just for a test you could have at home, we will not recommend surgery on the basis of a sleep study alone without an ENT examination, and we will not overstate what the results mean.

Frequently asked questions

What does a sleep study measure?

Breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, brain activity and other body functions while you sleep. The results help an ENT specialist diagnose sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Is a sleep study done in a hospital or at home?

Either, depending on your needs. It can be done overnight in a sleep laboratory or at home with specialised monitoring equipment.

Is it worth travelling from South Africa just for a sleep study?

Rarely. Sleep studies are available in South Africa. Doing one in Turkey makes most sense when it is combined with snoring or sleep apnoea treatment that is already planned.

Can I bring a sleep study done in South Africa?

Yes. Send the full report before you travel. The ENT specialist will say whether it is recent and detailed enough, which may save you a repeat test.

What decides the cost of a sleep study?

Whether it is done in a laboratory or at home, whether an ENT consultation is included, whether it is combined with treatment, and what the package includes. A firm figure is only possible after an assessment.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.