Sleep
HEALTH AREA
Impaired sleep adversely affects every organ in the body. A sleep disorder occurs when sleep patterns are disrupted. They are often serious enough to impact on a person’s physical, mental, social and intellectual functioning. Sleep apnoea and insomnia are the most common sleep disorders. Other examples of sleep disorders include restless legs syndrome (RLS) and narcolepsy.
Restless leg syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is thought to affect around 1 in 20 people, although it's likely that this condition is under-reported. Symptoms include crawling, tingling or aching sensations in the legs and sometimes arms. Symptoms often flare up at night, and can disturb sleep. People with this condition find that getting up and moving their legs can temporarily relieve symptoms. As a result, sleep deprivation is a common side effect of this condition.
Sleep apnoea
While there are several treatments available for obstructive sleep apnoea, we don’t truly understand how the muscles of the upper airway cause the condition. We are currently making the first direct biomechanical measurements of the upper airway in humans. By examining how the mechanical properties of these muscles are altered in people with obstructive sleep apnoea and how the brain drives these muscles, we will be able to improve treatments.
Sleep disorders
Sleep is controlled by the brain and is essential for human life. Impaired sleep adversely affects every organ in the body. A sleep disorder occurs when sleep patterns are disrupted. They are often serious enough to impact on a person’s physical, mental, social and intellectual functioning. Sleep apnoea and insomnia are the most common sleep disorders. Other examples of sleep disorders include restless legs syndrome (RLS) and narcolepsy.
