Sleep Talk - Talking all things sleep

With daylight saving time ending this weekend in Australia, is it time to re-consider daylight saving time?

Dr Moira Junge, CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation talks about World Sleep Day and promoting healthy sleep.

Sleep problems such as insomnia, sleepiness & distressing dreams are common for people with borderline personality disorder. Why and what can be done about it?

Social factors can have a significant impact on sleep. Understanding these is important to improve the sleep of both individuals and the broader population.

Perfectionism isn't good for sleep. Why is this so and what can be done about it?

Lucid dreaming has come in to popular culture in recent years, and may provide a way of managing nightmares and distressing dreams in the future. What is lucid dreaming? Can people make themselves lucid dream? What insights can be gained from lucid dreaming research?

Are you constantly exhausted? Do you find it hard to concentrate and take in what you read? Do you have symptoms of poor sleep? You may have burnout.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in young people in Australia. How does sleep interact with suicide and what can we do to reduce suicide?

How does lighting impact on sleep and health? Is it really a big deal? To understand the interaction between lighting, sleep and health we spoke to Assoc Prof Sean Cain, a leading expert in lighting research, from Monash University.

At times it can be hard to tell whether you have gone to sleep or not, or how much you have slept. This can be a particular problem for people with insomnia who can be prone to under-estimating how much sleep they are actually getting. To understand how this happen we spoke to Dr Lieke Hermans from Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands.

The current pandemic is affecting people around the world and having a significant impact on their sleep. We discuss changes in sleep seen during the pandemic and strategies people can use to help improve their sleep during this difficult time.

Pregnancy can be a challenging time, particularly for women with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy who rely on medications to manage symptoms.

Healthcare workers often have to work shifts that can incorporate long hours and working at times they would normally be sleeping. To understand these factors and how research is working towards finding solutions we interview Dr Julia Stone of Monash University.

Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers, like many shift-workers, face significant problems with sleep and mental and physical health. To discuss the issues facing FIFO workers we interview Dr Ian Dunican of Sleep4Performance, Melius Consulting and University of Western Australia.

During times of uncertainty, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, sleep can be challenging. To help with sleep during this time, we discuss simple strategies you can implement to help your sleep and mental health.

Many people experience trauma in their lives, and a significant proportion develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic experiences can have a significant effect on sleep, causing sleep disturbance, nightmares and a fear of going to bed. There are evidence-based treatments available that can help to reduce the impact of PTSD on sleep. To discuss PTSD, its impact on sleep, and approaches to treatment we spoke with Assoc Prof Andrea Phelps, Deputy Director of Phoenix Australia at The University of Melbourne.

Why do teenagers have trouble with sleep? What can be done about it? Answers from the experts in this episode of the Sleep Talk podcast.

When the weather gets warm it can be harder to sleep. But what does heat actually do to sleep and what can be done to help sleep better on hot nights?

What is social time, how does it relate to daylight saving time and what happens when it is out of sync with sun time and our own internal time?

Medical cannabinoids are being increasingly prescribed for a range of conditions including sleep. Do cannabinoids help sleep? How are they prescribed?

Tracking sleep over time can give helpful insights into sleep patterns and ways of improving sleep. This month we discuss the latest technologies for tracking sleep and interesting ways these technologies are being used in research with our guest James Slater from University of Western Australia.

Highlights from the Sleep Down Under 2019 meeting in Sydney.

What is sleep hygiene? Does it work? Can we be too careful about sleep? We discuss the pros and cons of sleep hygiene and put its role in perspective.

Is sharing a bed with a partner good for sleep? On one level partners can be noisy, move around and be the cause of sleep disruption. But on the other hand, they can provide a sense of security and closeness. This month we discuss the pros and cons of sharing a bed.

Alcohol is commonly used as a sleep aid, but does it really help sleep? We talk with Dr Rowan Ogeil about the impact of alcohol on sleep as well as other health effects.

Hear the latest updates on sleep research from the Sleep 2019 meeting. In this episode we talk with Dr Simon Frenkel about the latest research in sleep.

How does what we eat impact on sleep? What foods or types of diet can help with sleep? To help decipher this complex area we talk to Assoc Prof Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Director Sleep Center of Excellence Columbia University, Irving Medical Center.

When we eat may be just as important as what we eat for managing obesity and health. We talk to Dr Gerda Pot, Nutritionist from the Louis Bolk Instituut and Kings College London about the emerging field of chrono-nutrition.

Is it really normal to sleep for 8 hours undisturbed each night, or is that just an unrealistic expectation? We talk to Darian Leader, author of Why Can't we Sleep? about how people have slept throughout history and how many of our expectations about sleep are driven by social fads.

Menopause is a time of significant changes in sleep, as well as a range of other symptoms. Why does this occur and how can symptoms be addressed?

Sleep problems are common in pregnancy and change as pregnancy evolves. What happens to sleep during pregnancy? What is the best way to deal with sleep through pregnancy?

Symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and sleepiness are common in chronic fatigue syndrome. How can these symptoms be addressed and sleep improved in people with fatigue syndromes? In this episode we tackle these questions with the help of Nathan Butler of Active Health Clinic.

Are naps a good idea? How long should naps be? How can you get better at napping? Listen to this episode of Sleep Talk as we tackle these questions with the help of nativist Thea O'Connor of NapNow.

What are the common sleeping pills used for insomnia? When should they be used and what should you look out for when using sleeping pills?

How is sleepiness measured? Can sleepiness from different causes be differentiated? What new tools are being developed? These are questions that come up in clinical practice every day and are important when putting together treatment plans for people with symptoms of hypersomnolence (sleepiness) or hypersomnia disorders. We address these questions and more with the help of Assistant Prof David Plante from University of Wisconsin.

What changes in sleep are seen in depression? What can be done to improve sleep disturbance and sleepiness in depression?

What really is the relationship between light, the circadian rhythm and mood? How might modern anti-depressants alter that relationship? We address these questions and more with the help of Associate Prof Sean Cain from Monash University.

Highlights from the Sleep Down Under 2018 meeting in Brisbane. Topics highlighted are narcolepsy, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep health and the effects of caffeine on sleep.

Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2018 meeting in Baltimore.

Sleep problems are very common in people with traumatic brain injury and not just after severe injuries. Recent research from Monash University has looked in to mechanisms via which sleep problems may occur after head injuries and strategies that can be used to improve symptoms. In this episode Moira and David talk with Dr Natalie Grima, Clinical Neuropsychologist, about her experience working with people with traumatic brain injury and sleep problems.

Sleep and work patterns can impact on cancer risk as well as the response to cancer treatments. In this episode we talk to Assistant Professor Peter James from Harvard Medical School about his paper on cancer risk and night-time light exposure and discuss previous research on nurses working night shift showing an increased risk of breast cancer. We also introduce the field of chronotherapeutics, matching individual circadian rhythms to drug dosing to optimise outcomes and minimise side effects.

Sleep problems are very common in people with cancer, both during and after treatment. In addition to insomnia and sleep disturbance, other symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disorders such as restless legs symptoms and obstructive sleep apnea also occur. In this episode Moira and David talk with Justin Diggens, clinical psychologist from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre about her experience working with people with cancer and the Can-Sleep program to address sleep-difficulties in people with cancer.

Having trouble with sleep is not just about what you do at night. How you think and behave during the day impacts on sleep and can result in the brain being over stimulated or hyperaroused at night. In this episode Moira and David discuss how the brain works in insomnia, and talk with Professor Dieter Riemann from University of Freiburg about hyperarousal. What is it? How does it impact on sleep, and what can be done about it?

Understanding sleep beliefs and behaviours in different cultures can help better understand your own beliefs about sleep, and in turn change your expectations around sleep. In this episode we talk to Dr Andrew Beale on sleep in two communities in Mozambique, and Dr Himanshu Garg on sleep in India including common sleep problems, sleep behaviours and traditional beliefs around sleep.

Why do people get jet lag, and what can be done to reduce the effects of jet lag? In this episode, hear what Qantas is doing to help their passengers arrive fresh at their destination. With the introduction of new 787-9 Dreamliner planes and their ultra-long-haul route non-stop from Perth to London starting in March 2018, Qantas has invested heavily in strategies to reduce the effects of jet lag. You'll also hear from the developer of the Entrain app on using the app to manage light exposure before, during and after travel to help your body acclimatise to your destination time zone.

What does economics have to do with sleep? A lot it turns out. Inadequate sleep is a major cause of ill health and loss of productivity in modern economies. A recent Australian report put that cost at 4% of gross domestic product. Economic principles can also be used to help with getting people to take up effective sleep treatments. The relatively new discipline of behavioural economics can teach us a lot about designing systems to promote healthy choices including around sleep.

Children with severe developmental disabilities or autism often have difficulty with sleep which can not only impact on their sleep, but affect the whole family. These disorders are common, with autism affecting around 2% of the population. To understand why this occurs and what can be done we talk to Assoc Prof Margot Davey from Monash Childrens' sleep Centre and Assoc Prof Amanda Richdale from La Trobe University.

Sleep apnea is common and can cause significant symptoms. But how can it be treated and how do you decide what treatment to use?  Historically treatment choices have been made based on the severity of sleep apnea. However, treatment can be more personalised by assessing airway anatomy and physiology. With the help of Prof Stuart Mackay and Dr Brad Edwards, we discuss the latest research and talk through how to treat sleep apnea.

Many people are seen to have snoring and periods of stopping breathing during sleep. This is sleep apnea and it's very common. But does everyone who has sleep apnea need treatment? Recent research suggests that treating sleep apnea doesn't reduce future cardiovascular risk, but does reduce symptoms of sleepiness and depression. With the help of Prof Doug McEvoy, we discuss the latest research and talk through why to treat sleep apnea.

Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2017 meeting in Boston. With the help of Dr Simon Frenkel (Sleep Physician), we discuss the latest in sleep research, new sleep products and thinking in the management of sleep disorders.

Do you get winter blues? Why does this happen? What can we do about it? It is all about light or are there other factors involved in winter blues? These are all questions we try to answer in this episode, with the help of Prof Greg Murray (Psychologist) and Martin Emtenäs (Swedish TV host).

What is mindfulness? How is it used? How can it help with sleep? These are all questions we try to answer in this episode, with the help of Dr Antonio Fernando (Psychiatrist), Dr Allie Peters (Psychologist) and guest co-host Dr Giselle Withers (Psychologist). Mindfulness can be a great skill to help with sleep, but learning mindfulness takes time and a structured approach with guidance from an experienced teacher.

Headaches are a common symptom in people with sleep disorders. Headaches can also cause sleep problems. We discuss the link between headaches and sleep, as well as some simple sleep strategies to improve both headaches and sleep. In this episode we are joined by expert neurologists, Dr Andrew Evans and Dr Anne Calhoun.

Orexin is a 'master controller' of the sleep wake control system. It stimulates the wake-promoting system and stabilises the switching between wake and sleep. The unique role of orexin makes it an attractive target for manipulating sleep. Blocking orexin has been shown to be an effective strategy in insomnia, and drugs that block orexin, like suvorexant (Belsomra), are now available. Orexin replacement will also play a key role in managing narcolepsy in the future.

Measuring sleep used to be the domain of the sleep laboratory, but new technologies allow sleep to be measured at home. How well do new devices work? What about consumer devices such as FitBit compared to actigraphy that has been used by sleep researchers for years? Should you be measuring your sleep? Does it help to improve sleep? With the help of James Slater from Sleep and Performance Analytics we discuss sleep measurement and the use of sleep trackers.

At the start of each year, people make New Year's resolutions, often about health with the aim of making a new start. But often, by February, people are back in to their previous habits and routine, with their health goals left behind. To help set achievable goals around health and sleep, we talk about goal setting and making behaviour changes that stick with Prof Art Markman from University of Texas at Austin, author of Smart Change.

For people who have trouble sleeping, sleep can seem elusive. People can get in to a pattern of chasing sleep, trying ever harder to get everything just right in the hope of getting better sleep. However, the pathway to better sleep is often through letting go and being less careful about sleep. We discuss letting go of rules and behaviours around sleep, and are joined by Nathan Butler of Active Health Clinic who discusses a similar approach used in fatigue syndromes.

Dreaming. We all do it, but what is it really? Are all dreams the same? Do they have meaning? How should we think about dreams and do they influence clinical management of sleep disorders? We talk dreams and dreaming with Dr Jennifer Windt (Philosopher) and Dr Curt Gray (Psychiatrist).

Highlights from Day 3 of the Sleep Down Under 2016 meeting in Adelaide. Topics highlighted today are circadian rhythms and mood, anxiety and insomnia and an approach to managing depression symptoms in sleep clinics. For our monthly in depth podcast Sleep Talk, go to SleepHub.com.au, subscribe via iTunes or your favourite podcast app, or download the Sleep Talk app from the iOS app store. Links mentioned in the podcast: Teens & Screens - podcast episode featuring Dr Sean Cain

Highlights from Day 2 of the Sleep Down Under 2016 meeting in Adelaide. Topics highlighted today are sleep apnea and hypersomnias including narcolepsy. For our monthly in depth podcast Sleep Talk, go to SleepHub.com.au, subscribe via iTunes or your favourite podcast app, or download the Sleep Talk app from the iOS app store.

Highlights from Day 1 of the Sleep Down Under 2016 meeting in Adelaide. Topics highlighted today are insomnia and paediatric sleep. For more Sleep Talk episodes including our monthly in depth podcast, go to SleepHub.com.au, subscribe via iTunes or your favourite podcast app, or download the Sleep Talk app from the iOS app store.

What is healthy sleep? Is it sleeping through the night, or getting 8 hours of sleep each night? Or is it waking feeling refreshed? How can healthy sleep be defined? We'll explore this topic, with help from Prof Daniel Buysse, Professor of Sleep Medicine at University of Pittsburgh and Brigid Walsh, General Manager of Golden Door Health Retreat.

Can't sit still in meetings? Feel restless in the evenings or on getting in to bed? Can't get to sleep because you just can't keep your legs still? These are all symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Whilst for many people restless legs symptoms are annoying, but not very severe, for some people, restless legs can be a constant presence preventing them from getting to sleep every night. Dr John Swieca discusses restless legs syndrome and its treatment, and Kevin Monk shares his experience living with severe restless legs symptoms.

Teenagers who can’t get out of bed in the morning or can’t get to sleep at night are a common problem we see in the clinic. They can be up late on their smartphones and tablets consuming content or interacting via social media. What impact does the light from these screens have on sleep? Does light from screens impact on the sleep of adults as well? We explore these questions with Dr Sean Cain, an expert in the effects of light on sleep and health from Monash University.

In this update from Sleep 2016, we discuss the latest research in hypersomnia, insomnia, circadian rhythms and sleep technologies. The Sleep meeting is the main conference for sleep and sleep disorders, where specialists from around the world meet and discuss the latest research and trends in sleep. This year the meeting was held in Denver, Colorado.

Are you busy all the time? Feeling tired? Not sleeping well? Being busy and missing out on sleep can have an impact on performance and make people less effective leaders. Learn about the impacts of lack of sleep on work and performance and strategies to get sleep back on track. This month's guests are Dr Christopher Barnes from University of Washington and Simon Kinsella from CPConsulting.

Welcome to Sleep Talk snapshots where we aim to bring you the latest updates in sleep as they occur. This episode features an interview with Christopher Barnes from University of Washington, talking about the impact of loss of sleep on work performance. If you're looking for more information about sleep check out SleepHub.com.au

New parents often have to deal with disturbed sleep. What impact does this have and what can be done to reduce these impacts? Dr Bei Bei from Monash University and The Royal Women's Hospital discusses what the research in this area shows. Dr Moira Junge (Health Psychologist) and Dr David Cunnington (Sleep Physician) host the monthly podcast, Sleep Talk, talking about all things sleep.

Narcolepsy can have significant impact on health and function, which can also affect work and family. Often in managing narcolepsy the focus is on medication, but medications are often only partially effective. Learning how to live with these ongoing symptoms and reduce their impact is an important part of living well with narcolepsy.

What's the role of sleep in optimising sporting performance? What are some strategies around sleep athletes can put in to place? How can athletes reduce the impact of poor sleep and travel? To discuss these questions, Moira and David are joined by Ian Dunican from Sleep4Performance and Sarah Wall from NETFIT Netball.

Not sleeping well? The good news is effective non-drug treatments are available. The most effective of these is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I consists of 5 core components which include both cognitive and behavioural strategies. To help understand CBT-I and how it can be used David & Moira are joined by Dr Curt Gray and Dr Tony Fernando, psychiatrists expert in the treatment of insomnia.

Moira and David introduce themselves and the Sleep Talk podcast. They also discuss insomnia, including what insomnia is and how it's treated. This month's guest interview is with Dr Curt Gray (psychiatrist) on managing insomnia with anxiety and depression.