Singapore Sleep Awareness Week Rocks!
Organised by the Singapore Sleep Society, the Singapore Sleep Awareness Week 2010 is happening on March 19 – 28, 2010… Pretty impressive with string of activities held to educate the public on the importance of good sleep and some common sleep disorders.
Well, personally, I’ve became a facebook fan of “Sleep an Hour More Movement” and pledged against it… (how i wish i can sleep in more… but i’ll try 
Of course, had also encouraged my friends to join this movement @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleep-An-Hour-More-Movement/276905042096?ref=mf coolz! Facebook is a great avenue to share and get quick tips, facts, and solutions to every matter… i like it
On 20 Mar, I stepped into a sleep lab in the Singapore General Hospital… “What’s that??” u must be thinking… well, these are sleeping suites which we house our subjects (aka Sleep patients) where the lab tech wire them up so much that they look like suicide bombers! like this, all strapped up for a Polysomnogram (PSG) test:
Apparently, this is the most effective way in doing sleep study tests with leads attached to different parts of the body, measuring/ observing…
- Brain activities (for deep sleep)
- Eye activities
- Muscle activities (Chin for sleep talk, Legs for abnormal leg kickings)
- Sleeping positions (which are the positions that are not obstructing good sleep)
- Heart rhythms (with ECG leads)
- Loudness of Snoring (with Snore Microphone)
- Respiratory function (rate of breathing)
- Chest cavity expansion rate
- Oxygen circulation in Blood
So many components to a Sleep Study… although this conventional method may be uncomfortable, but it’s proven the most accurate amongst all other improvised devices. So don’t be fooled when someone sell you the idea of using a simplified machine for “comfort sleeping” during the test which end you up in getting an incomplete test, then you’ll have to double torture yourself! haha…
Sleep study results of an awake person
Sample results of someone sleeping… see the calmer waves? determines less activities compared with a person who is awake
Next station displays various Continuous Positive Airway Pressure masks and machines, devices which help force air into the collapsed air passages of sleep apnoea patients… I’ve tried one on… mmm… it really open up your airway and when i start talking, i sounded like Mr Donald Duck! its a kind of feeling I can’t describe… BUT proven to help give a well-rested quality sleep to those suffering… so I’ll give that a star!
CPAP masks – Nasal, full face, etc
Explaining the different types of CPAP machines – Fixed & Automatic Pressure
Last station was introduction of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) Exercises where purpose is to achieve a sense of calm that will be conducive to sleep… It generally runs through 17 muscle groups with repetitive tensing and relaxing each muscle just before going to bed… advisable – do it on the bed or near bed just in case u feel sleepy suddenly and you’re all ready for a good night sleep… zzzzZZZZZZ….
Check out on some sleep facts and articles at the official site of Singapore Sleep Awareness Week 2010: http://www.singaporesleepsociety.com/ssaw2010
