Having trouble getting a good night’s sleep lately? Maybe you’re having trouble staying awake during the day. Well, you’ve got plenty of company.

According to figures released by Statistics Canada in 2002, one in seven Canadians over the age of 15 — or around 3.5 million people — have difficulty falling sleep or staying asleep. The data — from the Canadian Community Health Survey — suggest that about 18 per cent of those people average less than five hours of sleep a night.

On March 19 to 21 Thompson Rivers University hosts the Multidisciplinary Sleep Science Conference to address this growing medical problem. Physicians from all medical specialties, dentists, respiratory therapists, polysomnographic technologists, nurses, psychologists, researchers, students and anyone else interested in the study of sleep disorders are invited to attend.

“This is a comprehensive conference offering an opportunity for professionals to gather and discuss contemporary research, clinical evidence and modern technologies in sleep medicine,” said conference coordinator Les Matthews. “We are hoping to further stimulate the enthusiasm all of these professionals as we all work together towards a better understanding of sleep and health.”

Dr. Cridland will speak at the conference on Friday March the 19th at 7 pm in the Campus Activity Centre and the public is welcome to attend his presentation on Sleep: the Missing Link in Diabetes Care.

“Sleep is the key to health, and this is particularly true for diabetics. Inadequate quantity or quality of sleep causes metabolic changes that can produce insulin resistance, elevated cortisol, glucose intolerance, reduced leptins, slower metabolism, and obesity,” says Dr. Cridland, Medical Director of the Kelowna Sleep Clinic and Nanaimo Sleep Clinics. “Improved sleep, along with other healthy lifestyle practices are important for glycemic control, managing obesity, and maintaining good immune function and mood, while reducing complications and contributing to optimum well being in diabetics.”

Registration is available on line. There will also be an opportunity for on site registration Friday evening and Saturday morning in the Campus Activity Center (CAC).