A special exhibition providing methods for healthy sleep will be held for many people struggling with insomnia and sleep disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hosted by the Korea Sleep Industry Association and MediC&C, which operates Medigate, the largest doctor portal in South Korea, and organized by Medigate News and Team MICE, the 2020 Korea Sweet Sleep Project ‘SleepTech2020’ exhibition will take place from November 13 to 15 at COEX, 3rd floor, Hall D, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
The ‘SleepTech2020’ exhibition was prepared to raise public awareness of the importance of sleep health, to recognize sleep disorders as a medical condition, and to contribute to the growth of the sleep industry.
The domestic sleep industry is known to have grown sixfold in seven years, from 500 billion KRW in 2012 to over 3 trillion KRW last year. Globally, the sleep industry is emerging as a new growth engine, spanning all sectors including traditional consumer goods like beds and pillows, as well as medical, pharmaceutical, bio fields, beauty, and IT technology-integrated products.
As the importance of ‘sleep’ increases, the number of patients complaining of sleep disorders is also rising. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of patients visiting medical institutions for ‘sleep disorders’ in 2019 increased by 13% from the previous year to 640,000. Since July 2018, when polysomnography began to be covered by health insurance, the number of patients seeking medical care for sleep disorders has further increased.
Major events at SleepTech2020 include a polysomnography experience booth where patients with sleep apnea can receive consultation from sleep medicine experts certified by the European Sleep Research Society and experience polysomnography.
Polysomnography is a test used to diagnose sleep disorders. It comprehensively measures brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing, and electrocardiogram during sleep, while simultaneously recording sleep status on video. The records obtained from the test are analyzed to diagnose various sleep-related diseases. Visitors can experience video interpretation of their current sleep state through examples of polysomnography methods and results.
One-on-one health consultations to improve sleep quality will be conducted by six psychiatrists affiliated with the Korean Society of Sleep Medicine. They will diagnose current sleep conditions and provide counseling on sleep concerns such as ▲difficulty falling asleep within 30 minutes after going to bed ▲waking up in the middle of the night or early morning ▲having bad dreams ▲getting up to go to the bathroom ▲coughing or loud snoring.
At this year’s SleepTech2020 exhibition, major exhibitors have also prepared spaces where visitors can experience ‘products providing a comfortable sleep environment for tinnitus patients,’ ‘intelligent real-time health monitoring systems,’ and ‘sleep environments for outdoor camping.’
A special health lecture for people struggling with insomnia will also be held. On Friday the 13th, during the Sleep Medicine Society’s special seminar, lectures will cover ▲the secrets of sleep and wakefulness: the body’s internal biological clock ▲protecting sleep health with national health insurance ▲diagnosis and treatment of insomnia ▲scary snoring if left untreated: how to diagnose and treat it ▲sleep of happiness ? escaping insomnia as a slave to darkness.
On Saturday the 14th, special sleep health lectures will include ▲Could I have a sleep disorder? Sleep health checklist ▲Sleep health helpful for exam students ▲Sleep health beneficial for skin beauty ▲Sleep health aiding diet ▲Infant sleep education methods and how to stop night feedings.
Finally, on Sunday the 15th, a sleep health IT technology talk concert will be held, introducing ▲currently researched and developed sleep-related products ▲sleep AI data analysis algorithms ▲sleep measurement center Sweet Sleep Sleep Coach ▲research and development status of digital therapeutics related to sleep ▲digital therapeutics market linked with insomnia, depression, and digital healthcare.
Meanwhile, a MediC&C official stated, “Many people are suffering from insomnia and sleep disorders in the COVID-19 era,” adding, “We have prepared a special exhibition to provide various information for a healthy sleep environment to these people.”
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