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Helping stroke survivors recover more quickly, feel
better
Shakespeare calls it "the balm of hurt minds"
and "Nature's soft nurse." Researchers agree
that sleep is essential to good health. Dr. Brian Murray
and his colleagues in Toronto Rehab's Sleep Research
Laboratory are discovering the importance of sleep for
people recovering from major illnesses such as stroke.
"Our research plan is to help stroke patients recover
better by treating underlying sleep problems,"
explains Dr. Murray, a Scientist at the hospital. "If
you have a stroke and you can't sleep afterwards, it
makes your recovery slower and more difficult."
Dr. Murray's colleague, eminent sleep researcher Dr.
Douglas Bradley, has noted that at least 60% of stroke
survivors have obstructive sleep apnea - a condition
which makes it difficult to breathe at night. "This
means your brain isn't getting the oxygen it needs,"
says Dr. Murray. "That's a serious problem for
someone whose brain has already been damaged by stroke.
Also, lack of deep, restful sleep gets in the way of
recovery."
Researchers at the Sleep Lab are now treating sleep
apnea with a device known as continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP). This is a small mask placed over the
patient's nose during sleep to help improve breathing.
"CPAP may also help prevent further strokes or
heart attacks," Dr. Murray says. "We believe
it will also help patients sleep better, and therefore
recover more quickly."
Dr. Murray will be working with Dr. Bradley to learn
whether CPAP can help speed recovery for people who
have had strokes. If so, this will have major implications
for stroke rehabilitation programs around the world.
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Quick
Biography
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Dr. Murray is a Scientist at Toronto Rehab, where
he specializes in neurological aspects of sleep
medicine. He is also an Assistant Professor in
the Department of Medicine at the University of
Toronto, and is on the medical staff of Sunnybrook
and Women's College Health Sciences Centre. His
research interests are: neurological sleep disorders,
and the effects of sleep disorders on the brain.
Dr. Murray has published and lectured extensively
on sleep disorders. He received his MD from the
University of Toronto, and went on to study Neurology
and Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
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Sleep apnea is only one of the disorders Dr. Murray
treats at the Sleep Lab. Another common complaint is
restless legs syndrome, a condition where people move
their legs constantly in response to uncomfortable sensations
in their lower limbs. "This condition dramatically
disrupts sleep," says Dr. Murray. "Fortunately,
it can often be treated with medication.
"Sleep problems are very common - and they can
have a significant impact on overall health. By treating
them, we can improve patients' physical condition as
well as their quality of life. Many sleep complaints
are treatable, often with very simple interventions.
Those interventions may make a huge difference. After
treatment we see cognitive and mood improvements, often
immediately.
"People with sleep problems often drift through
life, not feeling really well and not in the best mood.
When we address their sleep problems in a serious manner,
they're most grateful. Often, it helps them reorganize
their lives and achieve a lot more."
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