March is World Sleep Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to talk about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Many Australians report poor sleep on a regular basis, and blame it on a variety of reasons including work, finances, relationship, children and their age. Quite often, there is an underlying sleep disorder that should be investigated.
When it’s time for bed, what position do you snuggle into for sleep? Everyone has a go-to flop, whether it’s sprawled out on your stomach or curled up on your side. But did you know your sleep position can make or break your sleep quality, especially if you have a condition like sleep apnea?
Dating or in a new relationship? Our latest blog shares simple tips on how to talk about CPAP with a new love interest. Because a little mask isn’t a dealbreaker but snoring and exhaustion might be!
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a chronic treatable sleep disorder and a frequent comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes. The primary features of obstructive sleep apnoea include sleep fragmentation and frequent cessation of breathing resulting in hypoxia have been linked to abnormal glucose metabolism in various experiments. OSA is also strongly associated with the development of incident type 2 diabetes. So why do those with type 2 diabetes appear to have a greater risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea?
A common problem for those with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is that the excessive daytime sleepiness makes it extremely difficult to exercise due to a lack of energy and motivation. So if CPAP treatment can help to reduce apnoea events during sleep, will adherence to CPAP use result in an increase in physical activity?
There is no aspect of our minds and bodies that sleep does not touch. A good night’s rest is tantamount to maintaining a healthy brain, mind, cardiovascular system, immune system and metabolism. Sleep is one of the most important things we can do each day to keep ourselves healthy and happy into old age. So what happens when we can’t get either the quality or quantity of sleep that we need for optimal health?
When commencing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment, it is important to choose the right CPAP mask for you. CPAP masks, like faces, come in all shapes and sizes, and it can often be confusing to know which mask will suit you best Without the right CPAP mask, this can impact treatment efficacy (i.e. CPAP mask leakage, CPAP machine usage and Apnoea Hypopnoea Index), as well as general comfort with treatment.
Article Highlights: - Melatonin is released from the pineal gland when it is dark - Use of artificial light at night negatively impacts melatonin release - Light can depress melatonin signaling and contribute to sleep disorders - Supplemental melatonin may help to restore some of the melatonin signaling lost by exposure to artificial light at night - Melatonin supplementation is exceedingly safe, even at very high doses - Melatonin is a hormone, powerful antioxidant and analgesic
Article Highlights: - Light exposure has a huge impact on sleep/wake cycles. - Exposure to natural light throughout the day can help you stay alert and awake. - Artificial lights at night can disturb our daily rhythms and disrupt sleep. - Seek bright natural light during the day and darkness at night consistently for the best night’s sleep.
