| Media
Releases
>> Current News | Archives
Premier Sleep Disorders Centre Opens at Burnside
Hospital
Author : Burnside Sleep Centre
Date : Fri 13th Dec 2002
A state-of-the-art centre for the diagnosis
and treatment of sleep disorders in adults has been opened at
the Burnside War memorial Hospital as part of its major redevelopment.
Established at a cost of $600,000, the new Burnside Sleep Centre
comprises six, high-specification soundproofed private rooms,
each with en suite, and is equipped with advanced diagnostic
and treatment
systems, including infrared video cameras for monitoring sleep
behaviour disorders.
One of only two private sleep disorders facilities in the State,
the new centre replaces the hospital's existing unit that opened
with two beds on November 1995.
Highly trained technicians, in association with respiratory
physicians, provide an extensive service to diagnose a range
of sleep disorders
in adults including snoring, sleep apnoea, bruxism (teeth
grinding), abnormal body mvements, excessive sleepiness
and narcolepsy.
Investigation and diagnosis usually involves an overnight
stay in the centre, where tiny sensors are applied to the
skin of
the scalp, face, chest and legs to enable observation of
brainwave activity, oxygen and breathing levels.
Treatment studies are also conducted depending on the type
and severity of the condition, with one of the most common
forms
of treatment being for sleep apnoea.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition caused
by collapse of the tongue and other soft tisues in
the back
of the throat
resulting in partial or complete obstruction of the
airway.
It is estimated that as many as four per cent of men
and two per cent of women suffer OSA, and up to 10
per cent
of adults
experience
chronic insomnia, the incidence of which increases
with advancing age.
Research over the last decade has shown that OSA
can impair motor function and memory and drastically
affect
a sufferer's
mood.
Sufferers are also more likely to have hypertension
and suffer from a heart
attack or stroke.
Furthermore, research indicates that people with
OSA are two to seven times more likely to have
a motor
vehicle accident, with
the level of performance impairment comparable
to that seen in intoxicated drivers and severely
sleep
deprived
people.
According to the centre's honorary director,
Dr Michael Chia, there is a growing awareness
of the
significant
health and
lifestyle benefits to be gained through the
early diagnosis and treatment
of sleep disorders.
"The benefits of early intervention include daytime sleepiness,
improved cognitive function, for example
attention, learning and memory, and improved hypertension
and reported quality of life," said
Dr Chia.
Over the coming year, Burnside Sleep Centre
staff plan to extend the service to include
a support
group for
newly diagnosed
patients and ongoing support and review
of those patients undergoing
Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment
for sleep apnoea.
The centre can be contacted on (08) 8202
7272 and a medical practitioner's referral
is required.
Media contacts :
Dr Michael
Chia - 8364 4434
Sheryl Klingner - 8202 7205
^ Back to Top
|
