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Sleep Talk: Episode 40 – What is Normal Sleep?
Is it really normal to sleep for 8 hours undisturbed each night, or is that just an unrealistic expectation? We talk to Darian Leader about normal sleep.
Having a good understanding of how sleep works and interacts with our physical and mental health is a key to sleeping well.
Sleep is a biological process than can be managed if we understand it. Scientific research in this area is evolving rapidly, yet there are still many commonly believed myths about sleep. Keeping up to date and understanding how sleep really works is essential for healthy sleep.
Scroll through the posts below for information on sleep or search our archive for specific topics.
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Sleep Talk: Episode 39 – Menopause
Menopause is a time of significant changes in sleep, as well as a range of other symptoms. Why does this occur and how can symptoms be addressed?
Sleep Talk: Episode 38 – Sleep in Pregnancy
What happens to sleep during pregnancy? What is the best way to deal with sleep through pregnancy?
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Sleep Talk: Episode 37 – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and sleepiness are common in chronic fatigue syndrome. How can these symptoms be addressed and sleep improved in people with fatigue syndromes?
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Sleep Talk: Episode 36 – Naps
Are naps a good idea? How long should naps be? How can you get better at napping? Listen to this episode of Sleep Talk as we tackle these questions.
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Sleep Talk: Episode 35 – Sleeping Pills
What are the common sleeping pills used for insomnia? When should they be used and what should you look out for when using sleeping pills?
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Sleep Talk: Episode 34 – Measuring Sleepiness
How is sleepiness measured? Can sleepiness from different causes be differentiated? What new tools are being developed?
Planning a big night out? Consider the impact on your sleep.
Binge drinking or using illicit drugs can have significant effects on sleep long after they are out of your system.
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Sleep Talk: Episode 33 – Sleep in Depression
What changes in sleep are seen in depression? What can be done to improve sleep disturbance and sleepiness in depression?
Sleep Talk: Episode 32- Rhythm and Blues
What really is the relationship between light, the circadian rhythm and mood? How might modern anti-depressants alter that relationship?
Sleep Talk: Sleep DownUnder 2018 – meeting highlights
Highlights from the Sleep Down Under 2018 meeting in Brisbane. Topics highlighted are narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep health, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Talk: Episode 31 – Sleep 2018
Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2018 meeting in Baltimore.
Dreams. Do they have meaning?
Throughout history there have been lots of theories about the content of dreams and meaning of dreams. Do dreams really have meaning?
Sleep Talk: Episode 30 – Traumatic Brain Injury
Sleep problems are very common in people with traumatic brain injury. What can sleep problems in this group and what can be done about them?
Sleep Talk: Episode 29 – Sleep and Cancer 2
The body clock is important in cancer, with shift workers exposed to light at night having increased cancer risk, and the emerging field of chronotherapeutics changing the way we think about the [...]
Sleep Talk: Episode 28 – Sleep and Cancer 1
Sleep problems are very common in people with cancer. What can be done to help address sleep difficulties in people with cancer?
Sleep Talk: Episode 27 – Hyperarousal
How you think and behave during the day impacts on sleep and can result in the brain being over stimulated at night. This is hyperarousal. How does it impact sleep and what can be done about it?
Busy? What’s busy got to do with sleep?
We’re all busy, but how does being busy impact on sleep? In modern Western society, being busy is worn like a badge of honour. Colleagues will often ask, ‘Are you busy?’, but rarely ask if [...]
Alcohol and sleep: What are the effects?
Does a nightcap help with sleep? Is this a good strategy or a road to trouble? It’s very common for me to see people who use alcohol to help with sleep, and 28% of insomniacs have used [...]
Performance in sport. What’s the best way to manage sleep?
Getting good sleep is important in optimising performance in sport. But it's also important for athletes not to get too anxious about sleep.
Sleep Talk: Episode 26 – Sleep Around the World
Understanding sleep beliefs and behaviours in different cultures can help better understand your own beliefs about sleep, and in turn change your expectations around sleep.
Sleep Talk: Episode 25 – Jet Lag
What can be done to reduce the effects of jet lag? We discuss a range of strategies from using apps to manage light exposure to what airlines are doing to have passengers arriving fresh at their [...]
Sleep Talk: Episode 24 – Sleep Economics
Economics can help to quantify the cost of inadequate sleep to the community, and can also help with designing systems that promote health sleep.
Sleep Talk: Episode 23 – Sleep in special needs children
Sleep can be challenging in children with special needs and this can impact on their health and the family as a whole. We talk about why sleep is hard, and strategies for improving sleep.
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Sleep Talk: Episode 22 – How to treat sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is common and can cause significant symptoms. But how can it be treated and how do you decide what treatment to use?
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Sleep Talk: Episode 21 – Why treat sleep apnea?
Many people are seen to have snoring and periods of stopping breathing during sleep. But does everyone who has sleep apnea need treatment?
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Sleep Talk: Episode 20 – Sleep 2017
Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2017 meeting in Boston.
Sleep Talk: Episode 19 – Winter Blues
Do you get winter blues? Why does this happen? What can we do about it? It is all about light or are there other factors involved in winter blues?
Sleep Talk: Episode 18 – Mindfulness
What is mindfulness? How is it used? How can it help with sleep? These are all questions we try to answer in this episode's discussion on mindfulness.
Sleep Talk: Episode 17 – Headache and Sleep
Headaches are a common symptom in people with sleep disorders, and headaches can also cause sleep problems.
Cannabis and sleep: What are the effects?
Marijuana or cannabis use is common, particularly before bed time, but does it help with sleep?
Sleep Talk: Episode 16 – Orexin & Suvorexant
Orexin is a 'master controller' of the sleep wake control system. It stimulates the wake-promoting system and stabilises the switching between wake and sleep.
Sleep Talk Podcast – Dreams
Dreaming. We all do it, but what is it really? Are all dreams the same? Do they have meaning? How should we think about dreams?
Sleep Talk: Episode 15 – Sleep Trackers
Measuring sleep used to be the domain of the sleep laboratory, but new technologies allow sleep to be measured at home. How well do new devices work?
What is orexin?
Orexin is one of the key neurotransmitters in the regulation of sleep and wake. Blocking orexin with suvorexant is a treatment for insomnia.
Sleep Talk: Episode 14 – A New Start
New Year is a time for many to make a new start or set goals for the coming year. This month we talk making changes that stick for health and sleep.
Does Exercise Help Sleep?
Is there a link between sleep and exercise? Does exercise help to improve sleep? How much exercise? What type? What time of the day?
What is Behavioural Activation?
Behavioural activation is an intervention that encourages increased engagement in life's activity. It can help with symptoms of tiredness and depression.
Sleep Talk: Episode 13 – Let it Go
For people who have trouble sleeping, sleep can seem elusive. The pathway to better sleep is often through letting go and being less careful about sleep.
Why am I so tired?
Feeling tired? Do others tell you to just get over it? Feeling tired is pretty common. In fact, recent research has shown that around 15% of the population report feeling tired. In people of [...]
Highlights from Sleep Down Under 2016
Couldn’t make it to Sleep Down Under 2016? Here are some of the things that caught my eye. Sleep Down Under is the annual scientific meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association, the peak [...]
Sleep Health: More Than Sleep Disorders
What is sleep health? What is healthy sleep? Is it the absence of sleep disorders, or is it more than that? Is it sleeping well enough to support physical and mental health and waking function? [...]
Sleep Talk: Episode 11 – Healthy Sleep
What is healthy sleep? Is it sleeping through the night, or getting 8 hours of sleep each night? Or is it waking feeling refreshed? How can healthy sleep be defined?
Sleep Tips for Netballers
Sleep is important for sporting recovery and performance Do you want to recover better between games, and perform at your best? Sleep is a secret weapon for athletes, with those who prioritise [...]
What are Hypnic Jerks?
Ever get a falling feeling or jerks on drifting off to sleep? Have you noticed a jump or involuntary twitch just as you are drifting off to sleep? A sense of falling? Do these wake you or [...]
What is sleep paralysis?
Is sleep paralysis common? What can be done about it? Ever had a feeling of either drifting off to sleep or awakening feeling completely paralysed and unable to move? Did you have hallucinations [...]
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Sleep Talk: Episode 9 – Teens and Screens
Teenagers who can’t get out of bed in the morning or can’t get to sleep at night are a common problem we see in the clinic.
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Sleep Talk: Episode 8 – Sleep 2016 Update
In this update from Sleep 2016, we discuss the latest research in hypersomnia, insomnia, circadian rhythms and sleep technologies.
Sleep Talk: Episode 7 – Too busy to sleep?
Are you too busy to sleep? Does it matter? What effect could a lack of sleep have on your health and productivity?
Sleep Talk: Episode 6 – Sleep in New Parents
New parents often have to deal with disturbed sleep. What impact does this have and what can be done to reduce these impacts?
We are passionate health professionals, interested about all things sleep. We provide resources and education about sleep and an online community that shares evidence-based information on sleep and wellness. 
