Latest news with #sleepapnoea
ABC News
3 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.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Philips Electronics faces legal action for selling allegedly 'unsafe' breathing devices
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has started legal proceedings against tech giant Philips Electronics over allegations the company unlawfully sold assisted breathing devices in Australia. The devices were used by many people with sleep apnoea and were subject to a global recall in 2021 due to the risks associated with the foam used in the products. The TGA alleges 11 models of Philips mechanical ventilators, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines sold between June 2, 2019, and October 13, 2022, were unsafe, did not perform as intended and were therefore "unlawfully supplied". It estimates 44,000 devices were sold in that period. The devices contained a polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam to reduce noise and vibration from the machine but Philips found the foam could degrade into particles that could be inhaled or ingested by the user. "The probability of degradation, and consequential harm to the patient, was unacceptable, given the potentially serious consequences to patients," the TGA's statement of claim to the Federal Court states. The TGA alleges Philips was aware of the risks associated with the foam as early as 2015 but failed to take any action until 2021, when the devices were recalled. The TGA has submitted a range of documents it alleges demonstrate that Philips had prior knowledge of the defect, including a report from 2013 which refers to the death of a patient that year who used a particular ventilator called the Trilogy 100, which is named in the legal action. Following the global recall, Philips replaced the PE-PUR foam in the Trilogy 100 with silicone foam but by the following year it announced the new silicone foam could potentially separate from the plastic backing it was adhered to and block the air inlet. The statement of claim said this could lead to "ventilation failure or underventilation … [which] could in turn result in hypoventilation, hypoxemia, hypercapnia and asphyxia". The TGA alleges Philips did not conduct adequate risk analysis of the use of silicone foam with the adhesive. The TGA alleges exposure to the foam particles could cause short-term effects such as skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation, inflammatory responses, headaches, asthma, effects on the reproductive system and neoplasia (abnormal growth of tissue), while long-term exposure could be carcinogenic (potentially cause cancer). In a statement to the ABC, Philips Australia said since June 2021 it had conducted extensive testing with five independent, certified testing laboratories and third-party experts, and that, based on the test results, the experts concluded the devices were "not expected to result in appreciable harm to health in patients". "Philips will review the concise statement filed in the Federal Court by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and engage constructively in the required court processes," a spokesperson said. "Patient safety and quality is our number one priority, and we are focused on working closely with regulators to ensure we achieve the highest standards in the delivery of health care." The company noted the proceedings covered alleged activities in the lead-up to and during the 2021 recall but did not make allegations regarding the quality of Philips's current products. A class action against Philips lodged by consumers of the affected devices is also currently before the Federal Court in Victoria. The claim is being led by retired nurse Eva Lindbloom and aims to seek compensation for those who have suffered injury, loss or damage due to their use of the products. Last year Philips reached a $US1.1 billion ($1.7 billion) deal to settle legal action in the US over the devices. And a cross-border European class action is currently underway.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
The surprising power of breathing through your nose
It felt like every part of my life improved after a recent nasal surgery, from my allergies to my mental health. That may not be a coincidence. Nose breathing is a superpower hidden on the front of your face. For as long as I can remember, each breath felt like preparing for a swim underwater, a hard suck of air that never quite filled my lungs. Often I'd walk around with a faint whistle in my nose, praying that no one could hear it. The worst problem was a minor disability that most people refused to believe was real: something about the cruel architecture of my face made it physically impossible to blow my nose. The world was a constant sniffle. Life cursed me with a deviated septum. My right nostril was blocked on the best of days, and I'd wind up breathing through my mouth at the slightest hint of allergies. The nasal troubles even contributed to my sleep apnoea, a breathing condition that makes you wake up multiple times at night, which apparently leaves you more likely to die of any cause. But after decades of unpleasantness, my doctor suggested surgery. The plan was to straighten my septum and reduce my turbinates – bony structures covered in a mucous membrane that condition the air as you breathe – nasal tissues that I didn't even know I had. I was ready to try anything, so on 3 January 2025, I went under the knife. It's simple. Your nose is for breathing and your mouth is for eating – Ann Kearney One month of healing later, I was the proud owner of a newly functional nose. I was able to breathe clear and deep out of both nostrils for the very first time. I learned that blowing your nose is an ecstatic pleasure, one I now enjoy as often as possible. And though my sleep apnoea wasn't cured, it did improve. The procedure probably led to a variety of other blessings, too. It turns out there are some surprising benefits to breathing out of your nose, and you don't necessarily need surgery to enjoy them. In fact, nose breathing might even improve your mental health. Your personal air filter The most obvious benefit to nasal breathing comes from those turbinates, according to Jacquelyn Callander, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of California, San Francisco. "They're kind of our primary mediator for warming and humidifying air, and that's incredibly important. But they also act as a filtration system," Callander says. Together with your nose hairs, your hard working turbinates sift through dust, bacteria, viruses and more, an advantage you won't get from breathing through your mouth. "They can be the first line of defence for your immune system," she says. It's not just the merits of nose breathing to consider, however. Breathing through your mouth has consequences. "There's a lot of research that associates mouth breathing with oral health problems," says Ann Kearney, a speech-language pathologist at Stanford University Medical Center who studies sleep and swallowing issues. We've gained an increasing understanding of nose breathing's physical benefits, but the connection between the nose and the brain is often overlooked Mouth breathing has been shown to increase acidity and dryness in the mouth, linking it to cavities, demineralisation of the teeth and gum disease. A growing body of research also suggests mouth breathing as a child can affect the development of your teeth and jaw, leading to crooked teeth and even changing the shape of your face. "It's simple. Your nose is for breathing and your mouth is for eating," Kearney says. For some people with seriously deviated septums or other nasal obstruction, nose breathing isn't an option. But she says a lot of mouth breathers can choose the nasal route in many circumstances. "It may not be comfortable at first. The shift from mouth to nasal breathing can be an adjustment," But, Kearney says, the perks kick in with each breath. The nose at night Most healthy people breathe through their noses when they sleep, but some open their mouths in a nocturnal quest for air. That's bad news, Kearney says. "It's about the position of the tongue." Kearney says you can get a feel for this yourself. When your mouth is closed you're more likely to keep the tip of your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth and the back of your tongue relaxed, opening up your airway. But stop reading for a second, let your mouth hang open and slacken the muscles in your face. You'll probably notice your tongue rolls towards your throat, especially if you lean your head back. "That can restrict the airflow and cause some obstruction," Kearney says. You might even hear something that sounds like snoring if you breathe as you try this. People with obstructed noses tend to breathe through their mouths when they sleep, a phenomenon that often contributes to sleep apnoea. The condition affects an estimated one billion people, as much as 50% of the population in some countries. At best, sleep apnoea worsens your quality of life. At worst, its effects may be as dramatic as an early death. Even if you don't have sleep apnoea, nighttime mouth breathing can cause snoring and all the drawbacks described above. But across the internet, health and wellness influencers are raving about a controversial remedy for this problem: mouth tape. It's exactly what it sounds like. You use a piece of tape to keep your mouth shut or even completely sealed. In theory, this forces you to breathe through your nose while you sleep. However, some experts warn there are serious risks to consider. Kearney swears by mouth tape but says it may make breathing more difficult for some people. The only way to know if you're one of them is to see a doctor – do not try this at home without seeking advice from a medical professional first. "If you snore, have difficulty breathing through your nose or have any reason to think you might have sleep apnoea, you need to see an ENT [ear, nose and throat doctor]," she says. The risks of mouth tape Some people breath through their mouths when they're asleep, which can be an indication of a serious medical condition such as obstructive sleep apnoea. Tape that forces you to breathe through your nose could help certain people – but so far, there hasn't been enough research, and it could make problems worse in some cases. "If people have moderate or severe sleep apnoea, those episodes where you open your mouth to breath at night are probably important for returning their oxygen levels back to normal, and I usually advise them not to try mouth tape," says Jacquelyn Callander, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of California, San Francisco. "There are a lot of patients who have no idea that they have a problem," she says, so it's important to see a doctor before you try tape. The practice of mouth taping is still in its infancy. Many ear, nose and throat doctors say there hasn't been enough research into its efficacy or safety. A few early studies suggest it might be helpful, though none are definitive. For example, one study of 20 people in Taiwan found mouth tape significantly improved sleep apnoea and snoring, but the researchers said the small sample size and lack of a control group limited their conclusions. "So far we don't have great objective evidence that mouth tape helps decrease sleep apnoea or improves breathing at night," Callander says. "But it's low-cost and may be beneficial." She believes that mouth taping shows real promise, but agrees it calls for medical advice. If you're thinking of trying it, step one is to talk to a sleep specialist or an ENT. What you can try, however, is nose strips that hold your nostrils open from the outside, Callander says. "Some people have what's called 'nasal valve collapse', where inhaling causes negative pressure in your nasal cavity. For those people, nasal strips can help." Some people even wear them while they exercise. However, if you have a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates, like I did, nose strips probably won't help, she says. A wind chime for the mind Over time, we've gained an increasing understanding of nose breathing's physical benefits, but the connection between the nose and the brain is often overlooked. In my case, the simple act of breathing through my nose brought a variety of bodily relief, but the way we breathe, particularly through the nose, can have a surprising impact on our psychological wellbeing. You can think of the nose like a wind chime for the mind; when air moves through your nose, it seems to have a significant influence on your cognitive processes. Nasal breathing has positive effects on the limbic system – the parts of the brain that regulate emotion and behaviour – in ways that mouth breathing doesn't. Some research indicates that rhythmic, drawn-out nasal breathing slows down brain waves across your entire cerebral cortex, indicating a calmer state of mind A 2023 study, for example, found that nose breathing lowers blood pressure and the variability and frequency of the heart rate, indicating relaxation. "It's not going to treat hypertension [high blood pressure]," says Joe Watso, an applied physiologist at Florida State University, who led the study. "But breathing in and out through your nose seems to have a calming effect on your nervous system." Studies have even shown that breathing through your nose improves performance on spatial tasks, enhances memory function and betters your reaction time. Experts don't know exactly why that is. What we do know is breathing through your nose triggers the olfactory nerve – the nerves responsible for detecting odours – apparently even when there's nothing to smell. A leading theory is that this synchonises electrical activity across different areas of the brain including the amygdala and the hippocampus. Whatever the cause, nose breathing appears to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body to conserve energy and slows down bodily functions when you're relaxed. Science is telling us what meditators and yoga practitioners have said for thousands of years: nose breathing can help with mental wellbeing. Some research indicates that rhythmic, drawn-out nasal breathing slows down brain waves across your entire cerebral cortex, indicating a calmer state of mind. Watso and others suggests nasal stimulation could even offer a physiological explanation for the benefits of meditating. Almost every part of my life has improved in the months since I got my nose fixed. That includes my mental health. My anxiety has lessened, I'm more able to focus and my mood is better overall. It may be no coincidence. Callander says nose breathing could actually be making me a calmer guy. More like this: • What earwax can reveal about your health • Do you need to use a phone case anymore? • Grip strength: The test for your chances of living to 100 "It's possible," Callander says. "If you're getting better sleep, that's intrinsically tied to your quality of life and wellbeing. But I do think you might be activating your parasympathetic nervous system more often than you previously were." In my experience the classic advice is spot on: when you're feeling anxious or upset, take a deep breath. But next time, you may want to take it through your nose. * All content within this column is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this site. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health. Thomas Germain is a senior technology journalist for the BBC. He's covered AI, privacy and the furthest reaches of internet culture for the better part of a decade. You can find him on X and TikTok @thomasgermain. -- If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
