Sleep Well Clinic

07/12/2025

Frequency of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis:
Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are prevalent respiratory diseases that often coexist with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether asthma or AR are associated with a higher frequency of OSA.
Highlights
• Allergic rhinitis is associated with a higher frequency of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
• Asthma - particularly moderate-to-severe cases - shows an association with OSA.
• Prospective studies are needed to clarify causality and guide screening strategies.

04/12/2025

Continuation of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in women:
Clinical presentation in women with OSAS:
Females with OSAS report more monthly fluctuations in self-reported sleep quality, such as more sleep disturbances, including insomnia, frequent awakenings, non-restorative sleep, unpleasant dreams or nightmares. Symptoms about bad sleep are usually reported during the premenstrual week and the first days of menstruation compared to other menstrual phases. The most important symptoms of OSA in women are related to both sleep problems and mood disorders like depression or anxiety, but also to cognitive impairment (e.g. loss of memory or attention). The typical symptoms of OSAS, like snoring, reported apnoea, nocturia or sleepiness are not absent even if less reported. In particular, snoring is poorly reported, because it is “unladylike,” but it is frequent in women after 50 years of age and it remains the most predictive symptom in both s*x. Women with OSA may report their sleepiness differently, often emphasizing a lack of energy, fatigue, or tiredness rather than typical sleepiness. As a result, they may score lower on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, leading to an underestimation of this symptom. Nocturia, defined as waking up to urinate two or more times per night, is also specific, and it is more frequent among women than men (60% vs 40.9%, respectively).
Differences in clinical and risk factors in women could also explain the underestimated prevalence of OSAS in female patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the most common sleep disordered breathing. In recent years, literature has focused on the anatomical and functional factors in the pathophysiology of patients to better understand their clinical and polysomnographic features, aiming for personalized treatment. St...

03/12/2025

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome in women:
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is the most common sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and the most common sleep disorder in general after insomnia. SDB, encompassing OSAS and other abnormal disorder breathing during sleep (including snoring, upper airway resistance and central sleep apnoea), has been estimated to have a male to female ratio between 3:1 and 5:1 in the general population.
In the last few years an increasingly large body of evidence suggested that women are also significantly affected by OSAS, which is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders similarly to men. However, the symptoms are often different: female patients with OSAS experience more mood disorders or behavioural symptoms than males, resulting in a higher reduction in quality of life. Indeed, instead of the prominent snoring and witnessed apnoea's often seen in male patients, female patients may experience subtler symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, fatigue, and mood disturbances. This difference in symptomatology can contribute to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis, delaying a timely treatment.
The prevalence of OSAS in women, along with its clinical and polysomnographic aspects, varies across different life stages: pregnancy, pre- and post-menopause, and aging, leaving room to hypothesize that hormonal changes play a role.
In women, hormonal changes over the course of a lifetime provide protection especially against respiratory sleep disorders in the fertile age, which is lost in the menopausal age. Another aspect that is often underestimated is the impact of monthly hormonal fluctuations. Hormones affect sleep, and the premenstrual drop in oestrogen and progesterone can, in some women, lead to sleep disorders as part of another condition: premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the most common sleep disordered breathing. In recent years, literature has focused on the anatomical and functional factors in the pathophysiology of patients to better understand their clinical and polysomnographic features, aiming for personalized treatment. St...

02/12/2025

What is hypoglossal nerve stimulation?
HGNS is used for people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use CPAP or have been unsuccessful with CPAP. HGNS involves implanting a small medical device through a minimally invasive procedure. HGNS helps a person breathe better at night by gently moving the tongue, so the airway stays open. It sends a gentle signal to a special nerve in the tongue called the hypoglossal nerve. This keeps the tongue from blocking the airway so that a person can breathe normally during sleep.
When going to sleep the device is turned on- either by a smartphone app, remote or a wearable. Initially there may be a slight pulling or tingling in the tongue.

01/12/2025

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 19.8 million deaths per year. Growing evidence suggests a correlation between cardiovascular disease and sleep disorders, revealing that poor sleep quality can significantly impact heart health. Sleep disturbances can contribute to high blood pressure, heart failure, coronary artery disease. stroke and arrhythmias. The relationship goes both ways, with CVD contributing to disrupted sleep.
Sleep disorders are among the most underdiagnosed health conditions, with up to 85% of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea going undiagnosed.
If you are under the care of a cardiologist or you are undergoing investigations for your heart health, it would be beneficial to discuss with your doctor or our clinic whether an at home sleep study is appropriate for you.

30/11/2025

Poor sleep might be an early warning sign for su***de risk among teenagers, a new study says.
Teenagers (14 year olds) who didn’t get enough sleep on school nights or suffered from interrupted sleep were more likely to report a su***de attempt at age 17.
Poor sleep is not just a symptom of wider difficulties, but a significant risk factor in its own right. In fact, poor sleep amounted to a stronger risk factor than depressive symptoms or other known risk factors.
Sleep deprivation and fragmentation are not trivial complaints – they can wear your defences down and drive actions or behaviours that have life-or-death consequences.
Addressing sleep problems could form a vital part of su***de prevention strategies.

AbstractStudy Objectives. Sleep problems have been identified as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors during adolescence, yet a lack of longit

27/11/2025

A new study published in JAMA Network Open explored whether people with restless legs syndrome (RLS) are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD). The findings suggest that having RLS may increase your risk, but treatment could play a key role.
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological sleep disorder in which people have an urge to move their legs. Uncomfortable sensations can also be present, often described as crawling, creeping or itching. These sensations usually get worse in the evening or at night. People with RLS often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Symptoms may ease temporarily when they move their legs, stretch or walk around.
The causes of RLS may vary from person to person. It could be related to low iron levels, diabetes, kidney failure, pregnancy or certain medications.
RLS may also be related to dysfunction in a part of the brain that controls movement. This part of the brain uses a chemical called dopamine to create smooth muscle movement. When dopamine levels are disrupted, this may result in involuntary movements.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops as nerve cells in the brain weaken and die, leading to tremors, stiffness, slow movement and balance problems. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking, talking or completing everyday tasks.
In PD, the brain gradually loses dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement. Because both PD and RLS involve changes in dopamine, that may help explain why they cause similar movement problems and respond to some of the same treatments.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2839651

26/11/2025

Long-term melatonin prescription may be tied to heart failure:
Adults with insomnia who had prescriptions for melatonin for longer than a year had a 90% higher rate of newly diagnosed heart failure compared with people with insomnia who did not receive melatonin prescriptions, according to a study being presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association. Further, people taking melatonin are nearly 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure. Experts cautioned that more research is needed to understand the connection and whether melatonin or differences in insomnia severity or other factors might be behind the findings. While the association raises safety concerns about melatonin, the study cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. This means more research is needed to test melatonin’s safety for the heart.

25/11/2025

Physicians at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have found that they are increasingly diagnosing younger adults with obstructive sleep apnoea, challenging the stereotype that the condition primarily affects older or overweight individuals.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, approximately 80% of sleep apnoea cases remain undiagnosed. A recent Ohio State survey of 1,004 Americans found that 43% believe daytime sleepiness simply means they didn't get enough sleep, when it could actually indicate interrupted rest caused by sleep apnoea.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. Beyond loud snoring and daytime fatigue, symptoms include morning headaches, dry mouth or sore throat upon waking, difficulty focusing, and mood changes such as depression.
With obstructive sleep apnoea, oxygen drops whenever the airways closes or narrows, putting stress on your heart and brain. It's often associated with high blood pressure, increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, and memory problems down the road.

24/11/2025

Better sleep through science:
Lessons coming from circadian science, have exposed a network of biological clocks throughout the body. Biological timekeeping ensures that physiological systems are primed to do the right things at the right times — such as defend against pathogens, digest food and sleep. But circadian clocks don’t cycle precisely on their own. To stay in sync and function optimally, they need regular calibration from sunlight, daily routines and other cues.
Modern life doesn’t often cooperate. People spend much of their time indoors. They eat late into the night. They shift sleep schedules between workdays and weekends, effectively jet-lagging themselves. The toll is steep. In the short term, circadian disruption and insufficient sleep can reduce cognition, mood and reaction time. In the long term, they can increase risks of infections, diabetes, depression, dementia, cancer, heart disease and premature death.
For better sleep and overall health, focus on three basics: contrasting light and dark, consolidating mealtimes and keeping sleep times consistent.
Bright blue light during the daytime synchronizes circadian rhythms and supports the nightly surge of melatonin — the hormone signal that tells the body it’s time to sleep. It can also directly boost alertness and cognitive performance.
The same illumination at night, from artificial lights and glowing screens, confuses the circadian system. Aim for contrast: bright days and dark nights.
Calorie intake is also intricately linked with circadian rhythms and sleep. The human liver at 10 a.m. and the human liver at 10 p.m. are very different organs. The same can be said for other parts of the body that process food. Hunger hormones, digestive enzymes and glucose-regulating insulin have rhythms, too. Humans are simply not equipped to deal with food at all hours. It is suggested to revive the old adage: eat like a king in the morning, a prince at noon and a peasant at dinner.
That last meal, they say, should fall at least three hours before bedtime, ideally with no subsequent snacks or caloric drinks.
Lastly, be consistent with your bedtime and wake up time, even on weekends.

23/11/2025

Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea has been associated with an increased risk of cerebral microbleeds, which can heighten the likelihood of strokes and cognitive decline. Cerebral microbleeds are a common finding in the aging brain. Microbleeds increase with age, and people who have them have a slightly higher risk of future strokes and faster cognitive decline. Anything that increases microbleeds is relevant to brain aging. Microbleeds may increase the risk for dementia down the line.
Know the signs:
Loud, frequent snoring is a good indicator. If your partner notices pauses in your breathing while you sleep or gasping and choking, that’s another sign you should have a sleep study.
Problems during the day can be a good indicator, too. Sleepiness, trouble concentrating, irritability and increased hunger are signs you may not be getting quality sleep and that it may be time to get assessed for sleep apnoea.
Night sweats might also be a sign of sleep apnoea, as research has shown that about 30% of people with obstructive sleep apnoea have reported night sweats.
Waking up at least two times in the night, teeth grinding, and morning headaches might also indicate a problem.

This cohort study investigates the association of obstructive sleep apnea severity with risk of incident cerebral microbleeds in middle-aged and older adults in Korea.

20/11/2025

Sleep disturbances are common in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Twenty-three studies involving 881 patients with traumatic brain injury and 769 controls were included. This study found significant sleep–wake abnormalities as assessed by actigraphy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). As compared to controls, patients with TBI show longer sleep onset latency, increased wake after sleep onset, poorer sleep efficiency, and greater night-to-night variability in total sleep time and wake after sleep onset. These findings underscore the significant impact of TBI on sleep and highlight the importance of targeted sleep interventions for patients with TBI, with a special emphasis on managing night-to-night sleep variability.

AbstractStudy Objectives. Sleep disturbances are common in patients with traumatic brain injury. Actigraphy can provide an objective and naturalistic asses