Do you have Spinal cord injury? Tired? Get treated!

video no. 1 - Better Sleep - Compilation



“I fell asleep driving my wheelchair”

Researchers at IBAS have found that more than 80 per cent of people with quadriplegic spinal injuries have sleep apnoea. It’s having a big effect on their lives, but many don’t know they have it, and they don’t know it can be treated.

We’re calling for everyone with quadriplegia to see a doctor if they are tired and fatigued, and we’ve produced videos demonstrating the impact on patients’ lives.

“I was so fatigued that I would fall asleep even when I was driving my wheelchair,” says Ben Gruter, who has T5 paraplegia and is a retired public servant. Today, his energy is restored and his grandchildren ride around the block with him.

“Our research found that 80 percent of people with quadriplegia have serious tiredness and fatigue due to sleep apnoea,” says Dr Marnie Graco who recently completed her PhD on the subject at the Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS) at Austin Health and The University of Melbourne. “We found that most cases are undiagnosed, with patients just assuming tiredness is just part of the burden of spinal cord injury. So, we reached out to patients and asked them if we could tell their story, to encourage everyone with spinal cord injury to talk to their doctor about sleep apnoea.”

Sleep apnoea is a kind of breathing disruption during sleep that has been linked to serious health problems including constant tiredness, poor concentration, heart attacks and depression. It affects up to 25 per cent of the general population, but it is much more common among people with spinal cord injury.

“You might have sleep apnoea and not know it,” says Professor David Berlowitz, a physiotherapist at The University of Melbourne and IBAS. “If you snore, wake up tired, or you nod off during the day go and see your GP for a sleep study and, if needed, a treatment plan. Sticking to the treatment plan may be challenging but it can make a huge difference to your daily life.” A common treatment for sleep apnoea is the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep.

“I love my CPAP machine, but I hate my CPAP machine,” says Kate Herd, an author and designer who has C6/7 quadriplegia. “Using CPAP means that I can wake up in the morning and feel like I’ve actually had a pretty good night’s sleep, I can do all the things I want to do in a day. I’m glad that I use it and I wish I’d started using it sooner.”

If you or someone you know with a spinal cord injury has been experience symptoms of tiredness, we advise that you talk with your GP for a sleep study and, if needed, a treatment plan.

There are videos which were produced with the support of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).  You can watch all five videos here

For full media release details, go to https://www.scienceinpublic.com.au/media-releases/better-sleep

 

video no. 2 - Better Sleep - Ben Gruter



video no. 3 - Better Sleep - Kate Herd



video no. 4 - Better Sleep - John O'Shea



video no. 5 - Better Sleep - Lachlan O'Brian





Posted 4 years ago


ARIELARIEL

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic lung condition that causes stiff lungs and restricts sufferers from taking a deep breath. Exercise in a gym, or swimming, walking or riding a bike, can help...

Shift work and breastfeeding projectSHIFT WORK AND BREASTFEEDING PROJECT

Researchers at Austin Health are looking for volunteers to participate in a study exploring the impact shift work has on breast milk composition. Participants will be compensated with a $100 gift voucher.

Notch monitoring in sleepNOTCH MONITORING IN SLEEP

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is abnormal during sleep. There are two main forms of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. For obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is reduced because the airway...

World Sleep Day on 17th March 2023WORLD SLEEP DAY ON 17TH MARCH 2023

The benefits of quality sleep and to acknowledge the issue of sleep problems and their medical, educational, and social aspects as well as the prevention and management of sleep disorders, is promoted on World Sleep Day on the 17th March 2023.

A/Prof Mark Howard is listed in 'the Australian'A/PROF MARK HOWARD IS LISTED IN 'THE AUSTRALIAN'

The Australian's Research magazine names the top researcher and top research institution in each field of research, based on the number of citations for papers published in the top 20 journals in each field over the past five years.

Prof Anne Holland wins the 2022 ERS Allied Health medalPROF ANNE HOLLAND WINS THE 2022 ERS ALLIED HEALTH MEDAL

Congratulations Anne Holland for winning the ERS Mid-Career Gold Medal for Allied Health Professionals in recognition of her potential for further outstanding research within a field of the allied health professions. Well Done Anne!

IBAS Success in 2022 AMRF Research Grant SchemeIBAS SUCCESS IN 2022 AMRF RESEARCH GRANT SCHEME

Congratulations to the following IBAS staff members who have been successful in obtaining research funding from the Austin Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) for 2022.

Institute for Breathing and Sleep

Level 5, Harold Stokes Building, Austin Health
145 Studley Road
Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084

(03) 9496 5390

Email Us

Donate