Sleep and Vitamin D
Dr Stasha Gominak Discusses Sleep and Vitamin D
Why does my brain sleep
by Matthew Walker, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Matthew Walker earned his PhD in neurophysiology from the Medical Research Council in London, UK, and subsequently became an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School in 2004. He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of California Berkeley. He is the recipient of funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. In 2006 he became a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. His research examines the relationship of brain and sleep, and the impact of sleep on human brain function in healthy and disease populations.
Cpap Machines
CPAP MACHINES FOR SLEEP APNEA THERAPY
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious breathing disorder due to the many complications that come with it. However, it shouldn’t be a cause of panic. There are ways to cope with it, using CPAP machines being one of them.
A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is prescribed by a Sleep or Respiratory Specialist. CPAP is used in providing air pressure to keep your airway open and so avoid sleep disturbances. It also reduces your snoring which will make your bed partner a happier person.
The CPAP works by gently blowing air into the throat to improve the flow of air into the airways. It uses a special mask fitted over your nose and mouth into which air is blown at a certain pressure. This pressure is set so it would be just enough to prevent sleep apnea.
Sleepy Driving
Don’t Sleep and Drive
Ambulance officers at a sleepy driver collision
Each year in Australia, more than 1,300 Australians are killed on our roads and over 32,000 are seriously injured. One cause for these tragic numbers is sleepy driving. Driving a vehicle or riding a motorbike requires perception, good judgement, responsiveness and a reasonable physical capability.
Sleep researchers explain the growing dangers of a ‘sleep debt’ which can very quickly add up. Sleeping as little as six hours a night for 12 days is similar to the dangers of cognitive and performance decline in being awake for 24 hours straight. And being awake for 24-25 is tantamount to having the same impairment as someone who has a blood alcohol level of 0.1 percent, which is twice the legal limit. (more…)
A Home Sleep Study Process
If you think you need a home sleep study, here are the steps to follow:
1. See Your General Practitioner. Your GP will fill in a Referral Form
2. Request your GP Medical Centre to fax it to us on 07 3381 9025
3. We will call you to set an appointment
4. We will come to your home on the night of the appointment
5. At appointment time, ensure you have showered and are dressed in decent sleeping clothes
6. Our Sleep Technician will come to your home and attach the portable sleep test equipment on you
7. Limit your activities for the night and go to bed early so the testing equipment can capture sufficient sleep data
8. Next morning, remove the sleep test equipment, pack it carefully in its bag, and return it according to your sleep technician’s instructions
9. Your Sleep Technician will contact you when your Sleep Study has been analysed by your Sleep Specialist
10. We will advise you if you need to see the Sleep Specialist