ISS Press Releases

Press release Irish Sleep Society

The Irish Sleep Society was officially founded on 24th September 2005 following a meeting of healthcare professionals who specialise in disorders of sleep. This Professional Society was founded with the aim of informing other healthcare professionals, administrators and the public of the nature of problems that occur during sleep and how these may affect health and society.

Sleep allows for rest and repair of tissue, in particular, the brain. When a person’s sleep is disturbed this has an effect on their memory, concentration and work performance. Disturbances in sleep also contribute to weight gain, diabetes and heart disease.

Sleep disturbance may be due to insufficient sleep and poor quality sleep both of which are common consequences of modern living. However, the increasing incidence of obesity has led to an increased incidence of sleep apnea, a condition in which people who snore stop breathing during the night and despite an apparently heavy sleep are constantly tried and fall asleep during the day.

Sleepiness is also a major contributor to road traffic accidents. “It took many years to recognize the dangers of drinking and driving before legislation and society responded. People with sleep apnea may have the same risk of road traffic accidents as people who drive at twice the legal alcohol levels” Dr Costello, Consultant Physician at Beaumont Hospital and spokesman for the Society said. The society hopes to persuade the Department of Transport to include the analysis of sleepiness as a factor in road traffic accidents.


Sent to the Medical papers,
The national newspapers too
Departments of Health and Transport.

SLEEP SOCIETY OF IRELAND MEETING 

The first annual meeting of the Sleep Society of Ireland was held in Dublin on 26^th February, 2005.  This cross disciplinary meeting of healthcare professionals was attended by over 100 physicians, technicians, nurse specialists, dentists, general practitioners and otolaryngologists from both sides of the border.

The Speakers included Dr. Catherine Crowe from the Mater Private Hospital Sleep Laboratory.  She discussed how she evaluated excessive sleepiness and described how modern lifestyle may effect many aspects of sleep. The talk gave an insight into the normal process of sleep, and why we need to sleep and she described how too much as well as too little sleep may be harmful.  Dr. Dr. John O'Brien, Dental Surgeon, an orthodontic expert from Cork described the problems of teeth grinding at night and again emphasised the effect of the changing nature of Irish Society. For example, it is increasingly being recognised that the drug ecstasy promotes teeth grinding.  Dr. Richard Costello, Beaumont Hospital, discussed the hazards of sleep for the patient with neuromuscular disease.  He reported the tests that they use at Beaumont Hospital and the beneficial effects of ventilation for these patients.  Dr. David Vaughan, a paediatrician from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital discussed the phenomenon of sleep apnoea in children.  He pointed out how in children with rhinitis and in particular tonsillar enlargement sleep apnoea my occur. The clinical features that children present with instead of fatigue are somewhat different to adults, bad behaviour, poor school performance are two common features. Tonsillectomy and adenoid removal may help.