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ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Sleep becoming major health issue for Australians as insomnia and sleep apnoea on the rise
Four in every ten Australians aren't getting enough sleep, sparking fears that a lack of funding to treat the issue could see wider-ranging health problems become more prevalent. From brain, heart and metabolic function, to our immune system and growth, sleep is fundamental for our health and wellbeing. Director of Flinders University Adelaide Institute for Sleep, Professor Danny Eckert, said sleep issues were far more prevalent than is currently understood. "Inadequate sleep is affecting so many Australians, four out of ten in total," Professor Eckert told 7.30. "But in terms of clinical conditions: Insomnia, sleep apnoea, it's at least a couple of million people walking around with this condition right now, most of whom are undiagnosed and untreated." Just like smoking, alcoholism or obesity, sleep issues, he says, can take years off your life. "From your central nervous system to your immune, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, so your brain, your heart, they're all affected. "You name the condition, dementia, heart disease, diabetes — if you are sleeping poorly, you're not getting enough sleep, you've got disruptive sleep due to a sleep disorder, it is associated with increased risk of all of those conditions." The two most common clinical sleep disorders are insomnia and sleep apnoea, while for other people, things like shift work and lifestyle patterns are restricting their ability to get enough sleep. Professor Eckert said there were more risk factors emerging for worsening sleep problems. He said pressures on people's time and a busy 24-hour society were also chipping away at precious sleep time. "As housing becomes more expensive and people have to live further away from where they work, that's cutting into and causing people to have greater commuting time," he said. Regardless of the reason, long-term inadequate sleep comes with serious health impacts and can have a debilitating impact on quality of life. Brisbane father Hamish Sinclair-Ross had always been a good sleeper, even during his time doing shift work at central Queensland mines. So when he suddenly found himself unable to sleep, it came as a "bolt out of the blue". "At one point I just got into bed, and it didn't happen," he said. "It impacts your mental health, impacts you physically, hampers your day-to-day ability to do much, it's hard to concentrate." He now realises his sleep issues were due to stress, largely caused by the impacts of the COVID pandemic. His GP determined he wasn't clinically depressed, but he didn't "fit into the bucket" of long-term insomnia. She prescribed sleeping pills, which helped him get over his initial sleep issue. For a year-and-a-half, Hamish was on and off sleeping medication, finding that when he tried to wean himself off, he'd hit a wall and need to start taking them again. Professor Eckert said public awareness of the importance of sleep, and how to treat inadequate sleep, was lacking. "It's a major issue that people come to see their doctor with sleep problems. It's one of the most common reasons that they arrive at the doctor," Professor Eckert said. "And yet, our workforce is not appropriately trained overall." He said not only was there a lack of national awareness campaigns and guidelines around sleep, but there was a misconception that sleep was merely a luxury. "There is that message out there that it's somewhat heroic if you can get by or not very much sleep, that you are somehow stronger or better than other folks around you. "That's simply not true." A 2017 Deloitte Access Economics report found a lack of sleep was estimated to result in more than 3,000 deaths in 2016-17, with 394 of those from falling asleep at the wheel of a vehicle or from an industrial accident. A 2021 report commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation found that almost 1,000 deaths were attributed to sleep disorders in 2019 due to increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, mental health conditions and reduced mental health. While searching for an alternative to sleeping medication, Hamish found there was "nothing really accessible, and often it was really expensive." Then he stumbled across a program he could access online for cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, or CBTi. CBTi teaches participants to identify thoughts and behaviours that cause sleep problems, and change them. For Mr Ross, that meant limiting caffeine, creating a screen-free bedtime routine and, perhaps counterintuitively, limiting sleep time to make sure he was tired when he hit the pillow. "I felt like I was empowered to take control," he said. "I've just never looked back, haven't had a problem since." CBTi is globally recognised as the first-line treatment for insomnia, but Dr Alexander Sweetman said only about one per cent of Australian adults with insomnia were currently accessing it. "There's this huge gap between what's recommended in the evidence-based guidelines and what happens in practice," Dr Sweetman said. Through his role with the Australasian Sleep Association, Dr Sweetman also trains clinicians including GPs and psychologists to recognise and assess insomnia and deliver CBTi. And he's lobbying the government to expand access to digital CBTi programs. In 2018, a federal parliamentary inquiry looked at sleep health awareness in Australia. In 2023, the federal government supported, or supported in-principle, all but one recommendation including making sleep health a national priority, a national sleep health awareness campaign, further funding for research and upskilling of health workers like doctors, nurses and psychotherapists. But peak bodies say they are yet to see significant action on any of the recommendations. In a statement, a Department of Health spokesperson said the government was committed to progressing sleep health policy, and would soon update the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and Older Australians to incorporate evidence on sleep. The statement said the National Health and Medical Research Council provided more than $114 million towards sleep disorder research between 2015 and 2024, while the Medical Research Future Fund awarded $41 million towards 22 research projects relevant to sleep disorders. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Night-time habit that could be warning of devastating health condition
The largest study of its kind where people's sleep was monitored over an extended period has found a connection between snoring and serious health consequences A common night-time condition could serve as an early warning sign for dangerously high blood pressure, according to the largest study of its kind. Research found that people, particularly overweight middle-aged men, who regularly snore at night are more likely to have elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension. The study is the first to utilise multiple night home-based monitoring technologies over an extended period to investigate the link between snoring and blood pressure. "For the first time, we can objectively say that there is a significant connection between regular nighttime snoring and high blood pressure," stated lead author Dr Bastien Lechat from the College of Medicine and Public Health. The research, conducted by sleep experts at Flinders University, was published in the Nature Digital Medicine journal. "We found that 15 per cent of all participants in the study, who were primarily overweight men, snore for more than 20 per cent of the night on average and that this regular nightly snoring is associated with elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension. "These results emphasise the significance of considering snoring as a factor in healthcare and treatment for sleep-related issues, especially in the context of managing hypertension." NHS simple tips to stop snoring: Try to lose weight if you're overweight Sleep on your side – try taping or stitching a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear, or buy a special pillow or bed wedge to help keep you on your side Consider asking your partner to use earplugs if your snoring affects their sleep Snoring is a common occurrence and its negative health implications are often overlooked. Snoring and sleep apnoea - a condition characterised by sudden cessation of breathing during sleep - frequently occur together. "We observed that in those who snore regularly the risk of having uncontrolled hypertension was almost double. This risk almost doubled again in people who snored regularly and had sleep apnoea versus those who did not snore regularly," explained Professor Danny Eckert, Director of Sleep Health at Flinders University and the senior author of the study, reported SurreyLive. Snoring on its own could be an early indicator of high blood pressure, as the poor quality of sleep it causes may exacerbate the risk of developing hypertension. Hypertension, known commonly as high blood pressure sustained over time, can lead to severe health complications including heart failure, stroke, heart disease, or kidney disease. The research utilised data from sleep trackers, which were placed under mattresses to monitor snoring and sleep apnoea, and also employed FDA-registered home blood pressure monitors. The study spanned nine months and involved more than 12,000 participants worldwide. NHS advice on things NOT to do if you want to stop snoring: Do not smoke Do not drink too much alcohol Do not take sleeping pills – these can sometimes cause snoring "This is the largest study to date investigating the potential relationships between snoring, sleep apnoea and hypertension using objective assessments in people's homes, and it reveals important insights into the potential consequences of snoring on hypertension risk," Dr Lechat commented. The findings also underscore the importance of considering snoring in clinical care and the management of sleep issues, especially when dealing with hypertension management. "The findings of this study pave the way to further investigate whether therapeutic interventions directed toward snoring can reduce hypertension and reduce the risks associated with it," he added. Should you suffer from snoring coupled with signs of poor sleep quality, excessive tiredness, or noticed breathing complications during slumber, it is wise to discuss these symptoms with your GP or a consultant who might suggest undergoing a sleep study.
