Sleep Health...

Thank you for visiting this website, which is dedicated to our growing knowledge of sleep and its importance for our general health. It is only over the past few decades that the science of sleep medicine has become an established part of medical practice and only over the past ten years or so, that sleep laboratories have become commonplace.

Sleep is an essential part of the life of most animals and in particular mammals, and serves an essential role in the maintenance of well-being. Derangements of sleep can impact on a wide range of bodily functions including mental and psychological function such as mood, memory, coordination and higher intellectual function, glandular function such as sexual drive and performance, digestion and cardiovascular function. Indeed, this has become a huge area of scientific research and now text books of sleep medicine now are over a thousand pages thick.

Respiratory Physicians became involved in the treatment of sleep disorders due to their interest in respiratory obstruction, particularly in the upper airways, resulting in conditions such as sleep apnoea. There are other physicians also involved in the investigation of sleep, including Neurologists, but in Australia, Respiratory Physicians are the predominant physicians involved in this area of sleep medicine. Indeed, there is now a sub-branch of respiratory medicine called Sleep Medicine and sleep associations for physicians with a special interest in this area.

In this website there are many links to other sites, which will provide you with further information regarding various areas of interest, including conditions such as narcolepsy, periodic leg movement disorder and REM-behaviour disorder to mention but a few.

The practice of sleep medicine also overlaps strongly with psychiatry, as many patients who present with sleep disorders have a range of psychiatric conditions, the most common of which is depression. Depression frequently accompanies sleep apnoea and depressive symptoms are often caused by this.

Therefore, sleep medicine is not just restricted to what happens between bedtime and awakening, but requires a holistic approach to the psychosocial background of any patient. Not only is the patient with a sleep disorder treated, but also a whole family and to some extent, the whole society becomes part of the treatment process. The treatment of a truck driver with sleep apnoea, treats not only the patient, but also helps his wife and family and society in general.

Australian sleep technology is amongst the best in the world, with companies such as Compumedics in Melbourne, which have pioneered sleep monitoring equipment and whose devices were used in the Skylab Space Laboratory. In addition, the continuous positive airway pump (CPAP) was first discovered by Professor Collin Sullivan in Sydney over 20 years ago. Australia therefore, is well regarded throughout the world as providing high quality sleep training and facilities.

It is hoped that you will find this website of use and your constructive feedback is most appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Roger Allen

Important Changes to Drivers License Regulations

From 1st March 2006, drivers who suffer permanent or long term conditions are required report the condition as soon as it develops, or as soon as there is an adverse change to an existing condition. Drivers who fail to report such conditions when they become aware of them, may face a maximum fine of $A4500 or be disqualified from driving for a period of time. Visit the Queenland Transport Website for more information.