Weekend sleep-ins could prevent diabetes

20th Jun 13

If you're used to burning the candle at both ends on weekdays, sleeping an extra two or more hours on weekend nights could improve insulin production, according to the Australian researcher Dr Peter Liu.

Children's tiredness in school hours a wake-up call for parents

14th Jun 13

SCHOOLS desperate to combat chronically tired students are calling in sleep experts to counsel parents. Sleep health educator Sue Cranage, who runs educational workshops at schools across Melbourne, said parents often didn't understand how much sleep children needed and the impacts on learning and wellbeing.

Doctors find key link between epilepsy and obstructive sleep apnoea

4th Jun 13

Professor Terry O'Brien from the Royal Melbourne Hospital says there has been some evidence from other studies that patients with epilepsy may have an increased incidence of sleep-disordered breathing.

Professor O'Brien says there are similar symptoms of daytime sleepiness and fatigue between the two conditions.

Surgery offers mixed benefits for kids' sleep apnea

22nd May 13

A new study has confirmed that removing the tonsils and adenoids of children with obstructive sleep apnea can reduce sleepiness and improve the quality of life, but putting off the surgery might not hurt either.

The findings, released May 21 at an American Thoracic Society International Conference in Philadelphia, and appearing online in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that after seven months, surgery improved many gauges of everyday living.

Insufficient sleep boosts crash risk for young people

22nd May 13

Insufficient sleep puts young drivers at greater risk of a car crash, a large study by Australian researchers has found.

The new findings, published in the journal JAMA Paediatrics, show that sleeping less on weekends and sleeping six hours or less per night over a sustained period are both factors that increase the chance of run-off road crashes.

Ensure children sleep: ban mobiles, say teachers

13th May 13

Teachers are warning parents to ensure their children get enough sleep to do well at school, as experts fear late-night use of mobiles and computers are interfering with results.

Following a study suggesting Australian year 4 students were the fifth most sleep-deprived of the 50 countries examined, the Australian Education Union is calling on parents to be more vigilant in ensuring kids do not miss out on much-needed rest.

Female snoring is on the rise, with many sufferers seeking help

30th Apr 13

MELBOURNE sleep clinics have reported a surge in the number of women seeking help with snoring. Growing waistlines have been cited as a reason for the phenomenon, which is also linked to sleep apnoea.

Are you a member of the 'sleep elite'?

17th Apr 13

THERE is a small number of Australians who can function on a tiny amount of sleep.

Margaret Thatcher accomplished many things as one of the UK’s longest-serving - and most divisive - prime ministers. But one of her universally appreciated qualities was her ability  to get by in the top job on only four hours sleep each day, which researchers describe as a rare attribute.

McKeon Review - Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research

12th Apr 13

The Minister for Health, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, has today released the report of the McKeon Review - Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research – Better Health through Research

Click here to access the full report

Sleep disorders linked to depression in young women

10th Apr 13

Young women with regular sleep problems have a four to fivefold increased risk of depression, a landmark study of nearly 10,000 Australians has found.

Experts say sleep disorders could be the hidden cause of depression in a huge proportion of young people, with changes in sleep behaviour potentially reaping benefits in physical and mental health down the track.

Fatigue Incident Investigation and Prevention in the Workplace

27th Mar 13

The recording of the recent webinar is now available. To view more click here

Technology addictions and shiftwork leading to lack of quality sleep

18th Mar 13

Australians are increasingly suffering from insomnia and disturbed sleep, even though the average amount of hours we spend sleeping has extended by ten minutes since 1992 to 8 hours and 30 minutes

Good sleep just what you need

15th Mar 13

It's time for people to wake up and realise they need sleep.

Fifty five per cent of Kiwis say they never wake refreshed, and trying to fix the problem - swapping sleep for work or exercise, drinking alcohol to "relax", using a cellphone or computer screen at bedtime - can lead to premature ageing, serious health problems and early death.

World Sleep Day Exposes Myth

15th Mar 13

Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, President, Australasian Sleep Association said, “Poor sleep in older people is most likely related to conditions that accompany getting older such as significant medical and psychiatric conditions, specific sleep disorders, increased use of medication and changes in circadian sleep-wake cycles

Weight gain link to sleep patterns

14th Mar 13

People who sleep five hours or less a night are more likely to snack after dinner and gain more weight than those who get a full night's rest, a new study has found.

Sleep Apnea can be successfully managed in a primary care setting

13th Mar 13

With some basic training, primary care doctors and nurses could treat uncomplicated sleep apnea cases, according to a new study from Australia that highlights the potential cost savings compared to treatment at specialty sleep medicine centers.

Sleep deprivation plays havoc with genes

26th Feb 13

Sleep deprivation affects hundreds of genes involved with inflammation, immunity and cells' response to stress, British researchers have found.The findings might help explain why some people who do not get enough sleep have an increased risk for obesity, heart disease and cognitive impairment.

Closing the lid on snorers - drug study helps many sleep easy

22nd Feb 13

Woolcock Institute of Medical Research chief investigator Dr Nathaniel Marshall said yesterday the disease interrupted a person's nightly slumber so severely in some cases it destroyed any chance of leading a normal life.

But a new treatment on trial in Sydney is finally offering new hope to sufferers.

Australia to lead the way in innovative sleep research and advocacy

19th Feb 13

The Gillard Government recently announced it will fund three new Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) as part of the 15th selection round of the CRC program. The CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity will receive $14.5 million to establish a research consortium to reduce the burden of impaired alertness on the safety, productivity and health of all Australians.

Is Sleep Important?

19th Feb 13

Despite the fact that we sleep one of our lives asleep, its a misunderstood phenomenon. The importance of sleep to our health, well-being and safety, the nature of sleep and the disorders that affect it are not well understood by our community. Dr Sadasivam Suresh, Board Member of Australasian Sleep Association explains a number of important issues affecting sleep.