Dr John Santamaria watches over Murray Valley Private Hospital chief executive Doug McRae, who is hooked up to the sleep monitoring machine at the hospital’s sleep disorder centre. Picture: KYLIE ESLER
HAVING a consistent bed time, regular exercise and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed are tips for a good night’s rest.
However, it can be a lot more complicated than that for some people, says associate professor John Santamaria.
“There are many different types of sleep disorders and insomnia is the most common but it’s not easy to treat,” he said.
“About 15 to 20 per cent of the population has insomnia.”
Dr Santamaria, who works with St Vincent’s Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Centre, was on the Border last week to speak with doctors about referring patients to the Murray Valley Private Hospital’s Sleep Disorder Centre.