The new Murdoch Sleep Centre was last month opened at St John of God Murdoch Hospital to help provide diagnosis and treatment for people with sleep difficulties such as snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and insomnia.
Sleep Physician Dr Scott Phung says most issues related to sleep are first managed by general practitioners but some people need further assistance to combat insomnia, snoring, sleep apnoea and other problems.
“When people find themselves battling to sleep for more than a month and it impairs their daytime function, it’s time to look into the causes of their night-time wakefulness,” Dr Phung says.
“Other people present with problems of daytime tiredness or sleepiness without any sleep disturbance other than snoring.
“At the Centre, we monitor sleeping patients overnight to gain a clear, and accurate, picture of what is really happening at night time.”
Dr Phung and his colleagues use a polysomnogram to monitor breathing, heart rate, snoring, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, brainwaves, respiratory effort, body position and leg movements. These data are collated to form an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan is then put into place.
After their sleep issues are resolved, patients report a significant improvement in their quality of life.
“Getting a good night’s sleep, both in terms of quantity and quality of sleep, reduces health risks, helps you cope with the challenges of life and generally contributes to a much better quality of life.”
“Patients are delighted with how their lives are turned around – it’s very rewarding to see.”
The Murdoch Sleep Centre is a collaboration with Sleep Studies Australia.