For many Australian men, snoring is often brushed off as nothing more than an embarrassing quirk — a noisy inconvenience that annoys the person sleeping next to you. But what if that snoring is a sign of something much more serious?
ABC News recently published a powerful report highlighting what sleep experts have been warning about for years: sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are becoming a major public health issue in Australia. Millions of people may be unknowingly living with a serious condition that quietly puts their health—and lives—at risk.
You deserve to make the most of your holidays and business trips, and that means waking up well-rested each day no matter where in the world you are. Because sleep apnea doesn’t take a holiday, neither should your CPAP therapy!
You’ve settled into bed, your CPAP machine is gently humming, and you’re ready for a restful night’s sleep…until you hear that tell-tale hissing sound or feel a breeze of air on your face.
If that sounds familiar, you’re likely dealing with CPAP mask leak, one of the most common challenges in CPAP therapy. While some level of leak is normal and even expected with CPAP equipment, too much of it can disrupt your therapy and your sleep.
In this blog, we’ll explore what mask leak is, why it happens and what you can do about it to stay comfortable and get the most from your treatment.
Each year on April 7th, World Health Day serves as a reminder of the importance of global health issues. This year, let’s shine a light on a condition that affects a billion people worldwide but often goes unnoticed: sleep apnea.1 Here in Australia, an estimated 20% of the general population suffers from moderate to severe sleep apnea. Yet, despite its prevalence, over 80% of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.
Tossing and turning at night? You’re not alone. Insomnia is more than just the occasional sleepless night—it’s a genuine sleep disorder that affects millions of Australians, and women are twice as likely as men to struggle with it. Why? Hormonal changes, mood swings, and the daily pressures of life all play a part.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age, often leading to menstrual irregularities, hormone imbalances, ovarian cysts, and weight gain.1 It is the leading cause of female infertility and increases the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Over half of women with PCOS develop diabetes by age 40.2Now, what many people don’t realise is that PCOS may also increase the risk of another serious health issue: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
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?
