Melatonin approved in Australia for short-term insomnia treatment

An extended release form of melatonin is available in Australia. Circadin has been approved for short term treatment of insomnia in patients aged 55 and older.

Sleep and hormone secretion during sleep

Different sleep medications have different effects on sleep. This can be determined by electoencephalogram (EEG)characteristics during sleep. At MediSleep we record 4 channels of EEG, rather than the standard one channel in other units, in order to gain this information to assist in more complete evaluation of sleep problem and its treatment.

Depression and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

For over two decades clinical studies have been conducted which suggest the existence of a relationship between depression and OSA. Recent studies have underscored the evidence for a link between these two disorders in the general population, showing that up t0 40% of people presenting with one of these disorders have the other. At MediSleep we consider it to be important to consider the coexistence of both disorders in diagnosis and treatment.

Not enough sleep is bad for your heart

A recent study published in "Sleep" revealed that sleeping fewer than five hours a day, including naps, more than doubles the risk of being diagnosed with angina, corornary heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Not enough sleep is bad for your brain

The most at risk group was adults under the age of 60 who slept five hours or fewer a night the study showed. They increased their risk of developing cardiovascular disease more than threefold compared with people who sleep seven hours.

Sleep disorder may signal Parkinson's

Growing evidence suggests that people who act out their dreams may be experiencing the prodromal phase of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Several trials have indicated that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep behaviour disorders could precede the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease by about a decade (Neurology, August 10; online).

Associate Professor David Williams, Head of the Movement Disorders programme at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, said TEM sleep behaviour disorder was 'generally accepted as a prodromal symptom in up to 40% of patients with Parkinson's diseas".

Patients with a formal diagnosis of REM sleep behaviour disorder based on polysomnography (sleep study) had a much greater chance of progressing to cognitive problems or Parkinson's disease.