But there’s a big problem that has nothing to do with human health: the law currently allows Australian life insurance companies to access genetic test results and take them into account when setting premiums.

Even though a worrisome result generally just means that you’re at a higher risk for a certain disease, life insurance companies will price your premiums as if you’re definitely going to get that disease, or summarily decide not to insure you. And if you pay those inflated premiums for your policy your whole life and end up dying of something else, they won’t be reimbursing the extra premiums to your survivors.

Health professionals have a duty to warn patients about the possible life insurance implications of taking these tests, and the consent forms also carry such warnings.

As a result, many people steer clear of genetic testing, and thereby run the risk of developing a life threatening disease that may have been caught early or prevented.

Use of genetic test results by insurers to be banned

All this is set to change, and it has been a long time coming. In 2018, a Joint Parliamentary Committee Inquiry recommended that Australia immediately ban the use of genetic test results in life insurance, a rule that’s been in effect (with some exceptions) in the UK since 2001.

The practice is also banned in Canada as well as many European countries. In the US, health insurers and employers are prohibited from using genetic information as part of the underwriting or hiring process. 

In November this year, the federal government introduced legislation that would ban the use of genetic test results by life insurers in Australia once and for all. It’s expected to come into effect in mid 2026.

In a statement, Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the bill “supports medical practitioners to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor a range of cancers, cancer predisposition syndromes and other heritable conditions”.

He added: “Some people aren’t getting tested because they’re concerned about the impacts of the results of those tests on the affordability and accessibility of life insurance”.

The bill “has broad support across the Parliament”, Mulino said.

Industry self-regulation proved ineffective

The November announcement was the culmination of years of advocacy work by health professionals and other consumer advocates, who faced stiff headwinds from the insurance industry.

There were half-measures along the way. In 2019, the then peak body for the Australian life insurance industry, the Financial Services Council (FSC), forged a compromise, requiring people who applied for life insurance to disclose genetic test results only if the policies had death or permanent disability benefits of more than $500,000. 

But this measure was entirely self-governing. No government agency was checking to see if insurers were following it. (A new peak body, the Council of Australian Life Insurers, was established in 2022.) 

In 2020, the federal government funded a project (called the A-GLIMMER project) to investigate whether this industry self-regulation was working. The final report of the project, published in June 2023, makes clear that the FSC partial ban was far from effective at putting a stop to genetic discrimination in life insurance.

The three-year investigation uncovered several troubling facts, chief among them that some life insurers were ignoring the industry-led partial ban (technically a moratorium) and that the lack of independent oversight meant that no one really knew how widespread the non-compliance was.

The lead investigator on the A-GLIMMER project, Dr Jane Tiller – an ethical, legal and social adviser in public health genomics at Monash University – has long been convinced that a total ban on life insurers’ access to genetic test results is the only answer. 

Health professionals and patients whose views were sought as part of the investigation overwhelmingly agreed.

“Many Australians have been afraid to have genetic testing that could save their lives, because of the potential financial implications of their genetic test results,” Tiller says.

“Life insurers can still legally use genetic test results to deny coverage, increase the cost of premiums or place conditions on cover. This means people are making decisions about genetic testing based on insurance fears, not health needs.”

“Choosing not to have genetic testing means people could miss out on critical health information and access to early intervention or prevention, which can be life-saving.”

Years of industry pushback

Tiller, who has been campaigning against the use of genetic test results by Australian life insurance companies for the past ten years, says the prolonged pushback by insurers in Australia followed a well established pattern.

“Every time a new country embarks on this process, the local industry fights vigorously against it,” Tiller says.

“We certainly faced a lot of opposition in the early days, with the industry very strongly saying that this would have catastrophic implications, that it would impact consumers in bad ways because premiums would rise, that the life insurance industry would be unsustainable. These claims were made in other countries as well. So for the first several years, it was very hard to get any traction.”

The A-GLIMMER investigation put a fine point on what happens when profit motives get mixed up with medicine.

“In our research, we found two things,” Tiller says. “One is that people don’t trust insurance companies, and that’s very clear. People don’t trust them to use their data when that data is of benefit to the life insurer.”

“And we heard reports of multiple insurers not complying with even their own moratorium [on using genetic test results for policies with death benefits of $500,000 or less]. Brokers were telling us that the life insurers they worked with were very happily using whatever mechanism they could to get around that and not comply.”

The effect on patient outcomes

Designing a study to measure the effect of avoiding genetic testing on long-term patient outcomes would be difficult at best, but Tiller says the substantial anecdotal evidence gathered through the A-GLIMMER project suggests people who avoid such tests face higher health risks.

The data on test avoidance itself is clearer.

“We know that there are many people who go to a genetic counselling appointment, are told about the insurance implications, and decide not to have testing. And we know that lots of people say they would never have genetic testing because of the insurance issue,” Tiller says. 

She recounts a story recently told to her by a clinical geneticist of a patient who came in for genetic testing for a BRCA variant (which would indicate a seven-in-ten risk of breast cancer).

“She said, ‘I’m going to go away and think about it. I’m worried about this insurance issue’. When she came back a year later, it was because she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. These kinds of stories happen all the time, and I’ve heard many of them.”

“I can only imagine the number of stories that I haven’t personally come across. They are discussed incessantly in community groups, in advocacy, organisations, in research. There’s a constant conversation about having to tell people about the life insurance issue and the fact that they go away and don’t come back.”

Tiller is co-leader of a study called DNA Screen at Monash University, which aims to increase the uptake of genetic testing. For one project, 10,000 young people were tested for the risk of preventable cancer and heart disease.

“There is huge community interest in this kind of actionable genetic information,” Tiller says. “But lots of people dropped out along the way. And when we surveyed them, more than half said the reason they decided to drop out was because they learned about the insurance issue.”

“So we know it’s the biggest barrier and the biggest reason people don’t participate. And we know that this will eventually lead to high rates of cancer, of heart disease, and of other conditions that may have been prevented or treated earlier.”

Law won’t be retroactive

The new law – should it pass – will be written into the Insurance Contracts Act, which is enforced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It will also dictate an amendment to the Disability Discrimination Act, giving people the right to file a civil suit if it’s contravened.

Applying it to existing insurance contracts would have been the ideal outcome, but Tiller acknowledges there are tricky legal issues involved in applying new conditions to old contracts. 

“It will only apply going forward to people who take out new insurance policies,” she says. “It won’t apply to people who have current policies that are discriminatory. And that’s something that we’ve always been concerned about. What about that group of people that won’t be helped?”

Some genetic test results mean not just that you’re at higher risk but that you’re certain to develop the disease, such as those that reveal the gene variations linked to Huntington’s Disease.

“But we’re talking here more about tests that show that someone has a future risk of disease,” Tiller says.

“People walking around with these genetic variations have them whether they have the test or not. And so if they go and get insurance without having a test, that’ll actually be underwritten at standard rates. But they would then be at a higher risk that they’re not addressing.”

“If they have the genetic test, they’re able to take preventive steps. But until this law comes into place, they would then be subject to pricing discrimination because they took that proactive step.” 

Tiller is confident that the bill will become law, and that a federal law is a lot better than relying on the industry to monitor itself.

“I think that the legislative framework is robust enough that it will ensure that most insurers change their practices. It is a total ban. And that was something that we weren’t sure we would get in the early days.”

“Will it be able to be enforced is the real question, and that is always a challenge. But I think the more robust the regulation is, the more of a deterrent it creates. This is leaps and bounds better than what existed before.”

The post Genetic discrimination in life insurance to be banned appeared first on ����Vlog.

Experts suggest that the best temperature for sleep is around 15 to 20 degrees Celcius, so if nights remain warmer, sleep can suffer. The good news is, there are steps you can take to make hot nights less uncomfortable and more restful.

1. Think ahead

If warmer temperatures are predicted overnight, one of the first things you can do is keep your bedroom as cool as possible throughout the day. If you have the option, consider upgrading your home’s insulation before warmer weather arrives – this can reduce the heat by up to 35%. You can also help to keep your home cool by adding shade to walls and windows through the use of awnings, blinds, shutters and curtains. 

Keeping your home sealed during the hottest part of the day is another tried and true tactic for reducing indoor temperatures. Closing windows, doors, blinds and curtains can help to keep the heat at bay. On the other hand, you should open things up when cooling breezes arrive – an indoor-outdoor thermometer can monitor temperature differences to help you decide when it’s the right time to open and shut. 

Of course, all of those measures may still not be enough to beat the heat, in which case cooling options are your next step.

2. Fans in the bedroom

A 2022 study found that when using a fan, the temperature can rise by 3–4°C more before becoming uncomfortable. This means you can sleep easier in warmer weather without having to reach for something more expensive like the air con ––up until a certain point.

“Ceiling fans make your body feel cool (although they won’t lower the actual room temperature) and so the effect is very immediate, focused, efficient and cost-effective,” says ����Vlog home cooling expert Chris Barnes. 

One of the problems with cooling appliances like fans is that they can be a little loud. Making your room cool enough for sleep will be no help if your slumber is disturbed by excess noise.

Our expert ceiling fan reviews include a ‘bedroom score’ for each fan we test based on how well it performs at the lowest, quietest setting. 

If ceiling fans aren’t an option, a pedestal or tower fan may help. “Pedestal fans are the least effective option – but at times are unavoidable, particularly for renters on those unbearably hot days,” says Chris.

Our tests of pedestal fans include a measure of how much noise they make. Anything below 35dB should allow you to sleep soundly, so look for models that can run at this level. ����Vlog members can access our full reviews and filter the results to see which fans can be run at a minimum noise level below 35dB to help deliver a quiet, comfortable night’s sleep.

3. Air conditioning for a cooler night

If air conditioning is an option for you, a system that runs quietly on a low fan speed is the best choice. “Most modern split systems can run very quietly on low speeds, around 20dbA or even less – that’s extremely quiet,” says Chris.

You’ll also need the outdoor unit to run quietly, for your own sake – if it’s near a bedroom window, for example – and also so that you don’t disturb your neighbours. Again, most modern split-system outdoor units can run very quietly, as long as the system doesn’t need to work too hard.

“Some models have quiet modes that reduce the noise of the outdoor unit, but this mode can also reduce the cooling power of the system,” says Chris.

Running costs may be a consideration since air conditioners can be power-hungry appliances. Getting a cooler bedroom may be little consolation if the size of your power bill keeps you awake at night. “Running the system on a low fan setting and setting it to a moderate temperature should help reduce running costs,” advises Chris.

And if you use a fan along with your air conditioning it’ll move the air around more effectively so it won’t need to work as hard, saving you even more.

A sleep setting on your air conditioner may also help. These can be programmed so that the unit turns off after a set period and may also adjust the temperature so that the system winds down operation gently and quietly.

4. Mattresses can be cool

Manufacturers make all sorts of wild claims when spruiking the benefits of their mattresses and while our test results show that mattresses rarely, if ever, live up to their advertised ‘firmness’ claims there’s good news if you have a tendency to sweat or overheat at night.

Last year, for the first time ever, our testing found that some mattresses do live up to their claims of being ‘cold’, which means you could be closer to finding a mattress that can help you sleep comfortably if you ‘run hot’.

����Vlog mattress expert Peter Zaluzny says: “We measured the insulation of all the mattresses in our test and eight felt cold or very cold, while three felt warm. This is a big shift from what we previously saw, which was most tested mattresses coming back as ‘normal’ (medium-warm)”.

As part of our testing, we’ve measured how cool the mattresses in our tests really are. ����Vlog members can read all the results and find out exactly which mattresses deliver on the promise of a cooler sleep. 

The post How to sleep better this summer appeared first on ����Vlog.

Did you know that humans aren’t too far removed from the DNA of a toaster? It’s true, at least according to the folks at , who believe that our bodies’ energy is similar to household appliances. They claim that, like appliances, we also need to be grounded, albeit for health and wellness reasons.

Practitioners of grounding claim that humans accumulate electrons throughout the day. These pesky sparky boys supposedly cause all sorts of issues with inflammation, metabolism, blood circulation, immunity, mood, anxiety, sleep patterns and general pain.

Grounding yourself to the Earth – aka touching grass – is supposedly the solution, but that practice has apparently been lost to time with the invention of shoes. Plus, some folks can’t go outside and stand on the ground all day, whether that be due to limited accessibility, disability or lack of access to green spaces.

Feeling a little microwave-y, or perhaps a bit hairdryer-ish lately? GroundingWell Socks claim to be the answer. But their only real trick is leaving your wallet worse for wear.

What are grounding socks?

Grounding products tap into the earth socket of a power outlet, so you can expel and replace electrons without having to go outside. You can get floor mats, bedsheets, socks and more that keep you grounded, as long as they’re plugged in and in contact with your skin.

These particular socks plug in via a push-button pin, and include 20% silver fibre to assist with conductivity (among other things). All you need to do is put the socks on, hook them up and wait while grounding replaces your electrons.

Do the grounding socks work?

Based on our experience with the GroundingWell Socks, no. Though the socks do ground and discharge your electrons (as confirmed with a Fluke 177 digital multimeter), grounding itself doesn’t live up to any of its claims.

We wore the socks twice over the course of two days for an hour at a time while seated and lying down. GroundingWell doesn’t appear to specify minimum or maximum time limits for optimal grounding. The socks failed to help with the following claims made on the GroundingWell website:

• Faster healing, muscle recovery and bones and joints following a workout: Recovery occurred at the same rate the following day without a GroundingWell Sock.
• Pain alleviation: Pain persisted in right knee and right shoulder during and after grounding.
• Foot odour: We wore one grounding sock and one regular sock in leather boots. They each smelled the same after a day of use.
• Anti-aging effects: We still look old.
• Mood improvement: We’re still stressed about the mortgage.

Foot, wear?

Turns out the socks have another Achilles heel – the build quality. The grounding cord is very hard to attach and detach from the connection pin, which could be a problem for people with limited dexterity, pain and inflammation issues or limited strength. In other words, the kind of customers that GroundingWell is targeting.

They’re also poorly made. The connection pin tore off the fabric after just two grounding sessions during our review, rendering one sock completely useless – more so than before.

Does grounding science stack up?

Despite the claims, there’s no evidence that humans operate like appliances. The research oversimplifies how energy works, according to Carl Mihalilovich, our in-house expert who has over 30 years of experience in electronic test labs, including 20 years with Australian electrical safety standard committees.

“You do need electrical signals to function but that’s internal to your body,” he says. “It’s not clear how a current flowing between your body and the Earth provides any real health benefit. At best this is current flowing from your skin to Earth via a reasonably high resistance cable.”

The cable claims to have a resistance of 100 kiloohms, supposedly for safety reasons. But GroundingWell’s explanation is another oversimplification that 1) isn’t true as it’s actually around 9.7 kiloohms, and 2) isn’t necessary, according to Carl. “Even 9.7 kiloohms is higher than what’s generally required to provide an effective earth connection, based on the requirements of electrical safety standards,” he says.

Plus, grounding doesn’t actually replace electrons. It only discharges you in an instant then stops any flow of energy until you disconnect. “You’re simply discharged and remain that way until you disconnect then charge back up again, for want of better words,” explains Carl. “It’s like an anti-static wrist strap worn while repairing electronics, PCs and so on.”

Shaky evidence

The is pretty questionable as well. Studies often fail to consider other factors that may be generating the outcome researchers are looking for, even in double-blind tests. Arguments tend to revolve around “grounded subjects showed X, ungrounded ones did not; therefore, X must be a result of grounding”.

“Proof” is also based on subjective outcomes. Things like “feeling better”, “reduced pain” and “less stress” aren’t quantifiable on their own. Test pools are often quite small as well.

For example, one study that claimed among patients with mild Alzheimer’s Disease only surveyed 15 people. Another one found that , which is quite amazing until you consider that the researcher only used 12 people and that it was backed by a massage business – that offered grounding services.

And finally, arguments in support of grounding largely come from pilot studies with conclusions that are rarely conclusive. Scroll to the end of a grounding research paper and it will usually wrap up with something like: “Grounding appears to be causing these effects but we don’t know why. Further research is required.”

Are the grounding socks safe?

On paper, the socks are safe as long as you’re only connected to the grounding port. But while the grounding cable is designed to fit in the grounding socket, the wall adapter connects to all three points in the electrical socket – so you just have to hope that GroundingWell has made sure that the live pins are correctly isolated.

Even if it is well made, the adaptor still has some glaring flaws, according to Carl.

“The adaptors are not approved for use in Australia and therefore can’t be considered safe,” he explains. “An obvious problem is the omission of the insulation required on the live pins where they exit the adaptor body. This has been a requirement in Australia since 2005.”

One foot in the ground

Is there enough evidence to conclusively say that grounding, and therefore the GroundingWell Socks, don’t work? No. Is there enough evidence to prove that the socks do work and are worth the $40 price tag? Also no. But not only did they fail to deliver promised results, they’re also poorly made and difficult to use.

Grounding could very well be an effective tool, but more than thirty years of research hasn’t been able to figure out how and why. All of the maths and machines in the world can’t change the fact that so much of the “proven evidence” is anecdotal and you can’t sell science on stories alone.

The post First look: GroundingWell grounding socks appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• What is blood pressure? Systolic vs diastolic figures
• How to measure your blood pressure in eight steps
• Is it normal for blood pressure to vary?
• When is the optimal time to measure blood pressure?
• How long does it take to get a blood pressure reading?
• Ensuring the accuracy of your blood pressure monitor over time
• What's a normal blood pressure, and what's high?
• Managing high blood pressure

Follow our eight simple steps for blood pressure peace of mind and results you can trust.

What is blood pressure? Systolic vs diastolic figures

Blood pressure is created by the heart pumping blood through the arteries. It’s measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), and given as two numbers – 120/80 mmHg, for example, or ‘120 over 80’.

The first number is what’s called systolic pressure, caused by your contracting (beating) heart. The second number is what’s called diastolic pressure, and is the pressure between beats when your heart relaxes.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. When weighing up your risk, your GP will consider factors such as your age, sex, family history and weight, and whether or not you smoke.

How to measure your blood pressure in eight steps

1. Don’t exercise, have a bath, smoke, or drink coffee, tea, cola or other stimulating drinks for a couple of hours before you plan to take a measurement.
2. Sit comfortably at a table.
3. Remove watches, jewellery or anything that may interfere with the measurement, and have a bare arm or wrist (depending on the type of monitor you’re using).
4. Make sure you’re comfortable – relax for a few minutes before you start.
5. Ensure you take measurements using the same arm each time, as your blood pressure is different in each arm.
6. If you’re using an arm monitor, put on the cuff so that its centre is at heart height and your arm is resting on the table. If you’re using a wrist monitor, put on the cuff and raise the wrist to heart height
7. Follow the monitor’s instructions and take two measurements within a couple of minutes of each other. If they differ by more than 10mmHg (e.g. one reading of 120/80 and another of 135/80, a difference of 15mmHg), take a third measurement.
8. Keep a record of all results, and make a note of events that might explain an unusual result (for example, if you had an argument earlier that day, or if the grandkids were running around you while you took the measurement).

Is it normal for blood pressure to vary?

Your blood pressure can vary by as much as 30–50mmHg over the course of a day and it’s influenced by a range of factors, including food and drink, caffeine and alcohol consumption, physical exertion, stress (including the stress of going to the doctor to get your blood pressure measured – known as white-coat hypertension), and even busting for a wee will have an effect on your blood pressure.

Your blood pressure is usually higher in the afternoon than in the morning. That’s why it’s important to measure it at the same time, and under the same conditions each day. It’s also why it’s more important to look at changes over time rather than focusing on a single reading.

When is the optimal time to measure blood pressure?

To get comparable, consistent measurements, you need to measure your blood pressure at the same time of day and under the same conditions every time, ideally twice daily – in the morning before breakfast and again in the evening. You should also take two or three measurements each time. This gives you the best possible chance of taking accurate, consistent readings and of spotting any changes over time.

If in doubt, your GP can advise you on the best time to measure your blood pressure and how often you should measure it, and they can also check that you’re using your own blood pressure monitor correctly.

How long does it take to get a blood pressure reading?

Taking a blood pressure reading only takes a few seconds, but while the reading itself is quick, you need to take some time to prepare beforehand. You should abstain from food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for at least half an hour before taking a measurement, and visit the bathroom – a full bladder can raise your blood pressure a little, reducing accuracy.

You should also sit still in a comfortable chair with arms and legs uncrossed for five minutes before taking a reading, and don’t talk while taking your blood pressure.

Ensuring the accuracy of your blood pressure monitor over time

To ensure accuracy, manufacturers strongly recommend visiting your GP for your first measurement, where you should measure your blood pressure using both the GP’s monitor and your own (we recommend testing at least three times and working out an average). 

According to Dr Brian Morton from the Australian Medical Association, a fluctuation of about +/- 10mmHg is acceptable between different monitors, and we haven’t found an average fluctuation beyond this for any monitors we’ve reviewed.

You should go back and check your monitor’s readings against your GP’s machine every six months or so. Some monitor instructions also recommend sending the monitor back to the manufacturer every year for calibration.

What blood pressure cuff size do you need?

Most blood pressure monitors come with a medium-sized cuff already fitted. While this will be suitable for the majority of users, there are different sized cuffs available for several of the monitors in our test if your arm is exceptionally large or small.

To get the right cuff size for an arm model, measure your arm’s circumference halfway between your shoulder and elbow, while standing with your arm hanging at your side. A circumference of 18–22cm requires a small cuff, 22–32cm requires a medium cuff, and above 32cm you’ll need a large cuff – but check the measurements against the manufacturer’s instructions on the product you intend to buy.

What’s a normal blood pressure, and what’s high?

High blood pressure is usually asymptomatic, so you may not even be aware you have it. That’s why the disease is often called “the silent killer”.

Here’s how The Heart Foundation defines normal and high blood pressure:

• Less than 120/80: normal
• Between 120/80 and 140/90: normal to high
• Equal or greater than 140/90: high
• Equal or greater than 180/110: very high

What causes high blood pressure?

High pressure or hypertension can potentially put a strain on your arteries and organs, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Your lifestyle is a big contributor to the risk of hypertension – being overweight, drinking and smoking can all raise your blood pressure.

What you eat also has a big impact – a diet high in sugar can lead to weight gain, which in turn can elevate your blood pressure. Similarly, a diet high in saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol, which also affects your cardiovascular system.

Your blood pressure also gets higher as you get older.

Managing high blood pressure

To prevent high blood pressure, or to manage it once you’ve been diagnosed, follow these tips.

• Visit your GP regularly for a check-up, especially when you know you have high blood pressure.
• Quit smoking.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
• Exercise regularly (but note that there are certain sports to avoid when you have high blood pressure, such as lifting heavy weights) and consider stress-reducing techniques like yoga and meditation.
• Eat less red meat, and avoid salty and fatty foods.
• Eat more cereals, fish, fruit and vegetables.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.

Medication for high blood pressure

If lifestyle changes don’t lower your blood pressure enough, your doctor may prescribe medication. Make sure you take it, and don’t adjust the dosage yourself based on your own blood pressure measurements. This is known as “self diagnosis”, and fiddling with your medication yourself can have serious consequences.

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, isn’t as serious as high blood pressure but it’s still worth addressing as it can cause dizziness and fainting, which may in turn result in further injuries from falling and hitting your head.

What causes low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure can be the result of genetics, or may be caused by an illness or other health issue such as diabetes, neurological conditions, heart problems, or serious injury and shock.

Can blood pressure monitors detect a heart attack?

Not necessarily. During a heart attack your blood pressure may rise as your fight or flight mechanism feeds adrenaline into your system, or it might fall as your damaged heart weakens, or it might stay exactly the same. Conversely, there’s a whole slew of (non-heart attack related) factors that can affect your blood pressure in the short term. As a result, a change in blood pressure alone without other symptoms is not a reliable sign of a heart attack.

The post How to measure your blood pressure appeared first on ����Vlog.

Here’s how we put blood pressure monitors through their paces to find out which ones are the most accurate, which ones are easiest to use, and which ones we recommend to help keep track of your blood pressure at home (though as always, see your GP for more advice).

Our expert testers

Our expert tester, Matthew Tung, has many years experience testing home health devices and child safety products for ����Vlog. Matthew compiles a panel of 10 test subjects of diverse ages and fitness levels to assist in the testing process, which is conducted under controlled conditions in our laboratory. 

By using a panel of volunteer test subjects we’re able to assess each of the monitors for ease of use, as well as accuracy across a range of different physiologies.

How we choose which blood pressure monitors we test

With a range of products on the market, what makes us choose one blood pressure monitor to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the majority of brands on the market and focus on what you’re most likely to see in stores.

We research the blood pressure monitors available in stores and survey manufacturers to find out about the range of products available and to identify the newest and most popular blood pressure monitors in the market. 

Armed with this list, our buyers head to pharmacies, online stores and other retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure what we buy is the same as you’d find it and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we assess blood pressure monitors

Our testing of blood pressure monitors is a measure of both accuracy and ease of use.

Accuracy

This is assessed by taking two measurements for each monitor on our test from each of our 10 triallists, and comparing them with a reading taken from a freshly calibrated hospital-grade blood pressure monitor*. The differences in measurements from the monitor on test and our reference monitor are then averaged to give us our accuracy results.

Before testing begins, we make sure each triallist is well rested and our tester, Matthew, implements a one-minute interval between each reading to allow the test subject’s blood pressure to return to normal. Our test panel is made up of volunteers from a wide range of ages and fitness levels.

Ease of use

This score is an assessment of a number of elements when using the blood pressure monitor, including the instructions, ease of fitting and operating the monitor, comfort, screen quality and the information displayed on the screen or, in the case of app-based monitors, via your phone. Our triallists are asked to fit each cuff themselves so we can evaluate ease of use from the perspective of the home user.

Validation

This is separate to our testing and is a specification note where we research whether the blood pressure monitor has been validated by any to see whether it is giving accurate results. Where a blood pressure is not validated, it means we cannot recommend it.

Test criteria explained

The ����Vlog Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which products we recommend, is made up of:

• accuracy (80%)
• ease of use (20%).

*Special thanks to GE Healthcare for providing a GE Carescape V100 hospital grade monitor for use as a reference blood pressure monitor in our testing.

The post How we test blood pressure monitors appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• What causes snoring?
• What causes snoring in women?
• What causes snoring in men?
• Snoring vs sleep apnoea
• Snoring treatments
• Children who snore

We help you understand what causes snoring and outline the different treatments available, including lifestyle changes, dental appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, apps, gadgets and even surgery. Plus, we tell you which ones could work for you and which ones will leave your wallet (and your bedmate) yawning.

What causes snoring?

Snoring happens when a collapse, blockage or restriction to the upper airway obstructs the flow of air through the back of the mouth or nose. The sound is created by the vibration of the soft tissues at the back of the throat.

Obesity

A common cause of snoring is obesity – overweight people have extra bulk around the neck that can restrict their airways. There’s also experimental evidence that abdominal fat pushes the chest up towards the upper airway, which causes it to lose its tension, becoming floppy.

Sleep apnoea

Snoring is one of the main symptoms of sleep apnoea, where airways are obstructed during sleep until the person wakes up – often gasping for air. Sleep apnoea is more common among overweight people.

Certain drugs

Drugs such as alcohol, muscle relaxants and sleeping tablets can also cause snoring by making the tongue and muscles in the throat relax, go floppy and vibrate. Smokers are also more likely to snore than non-smokers.

Nasal congestion and late eating

Nasal congestion from a cold or allergies can cause snoring, as can eating too much at night (though when this is the cause the snoring would be temporary).   

Anatomical factors

Anatomical problems that cause snoring can include a bent septum (the wall that separates the nostrils) or nasal polyps. If your tongue, uvula (the dangly thing at the back of your mouth), tonsils or adenoids are enlarged it can also increase the likelihood that you will snore.

What causes snoring in women?

While the general scientific consensus is that men are much more likely to snore than women, a recent study of nearly 2000 people found that women snore just as frequently, and as loudly, as men, but that they tend to underreport their own snoring habits. Regardless of which gender snores the most, there is evidence to show that women are more likely to snore during pregnancy and menopause, while pre-menopausal women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are also more prone to snoring. 

Pregnancy

Pregnant women are more likely to snore than non-pregnant women. There are a number of reasons for this including:

• Hormonal changes: The hormonal fluctuations in pregnancy can increase fluid buildup in the nasal passages and cause congestion, leading to reduced airflow.
• Increased blood volume: During pregnancy, blood volume can increase by as much as 45%. The increased blood flow in the nasal passages and enlargement of the veins in the nose can increase congestion and make it more difficult to breathe through your nose.
• Weight gain: As mentioned above, an increase in your weight can also make you more likely to snore.

The good news is, pregnancy-related snoring doesn’t last forever and will usually subside within a few months of giving birth.

Menopause

Studies have shown that menopausal and postmenopausal women are more likely to snore and experience sleep apnoea. This is because progesterone and oestrogen play a role in  preventing upper airway collapse during sleep and levels of both these hormones drop during menopause. Some studies have shown hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help to reduce snoring, but further research is needed.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that can cause irregular periods, high levels of the hormone androgen and cysts on the ovaries. Women with PCOS are often also insulin resistant and may be more prone to obesity. PCOS sufferers are much more likely to have sleep apnoea, possibly due to insulin resistance. 

What causes snoring in men?

It’s generally accepted that men are more likely to snore than women (although some new research, such as the study mentioned above, is starting to cast doubt on this). The main reasons for the difference in snoring between men and women are believed to be physiological, though lifestyle factors also play an important role.

Airway anatomy

When the tongue relaxes during sleep, it can fall into the space behind the tongue called the oropharynx, obstructing the airway and causing snoring. This space is larger in men, which may increase the likelihood of snoring.

Fat distribution

Not only are men more likely to be obese than women (which is a risk factor for snoring), the way their body fat is generally distributed also increases their snoring risk. While women are more likely to store fat below the waist, men are more likely to store fat in the upper torso and neck which can restrict the airways, especially when lying down.

Lifestyle factors

Australian men are more likely than women to be daily smokers and more likely to drink excessively, both of which can increase the risk of snoring.

Snoring vs sleep apnoea

Many regular snorers, especially heavy snorers, also have sleep apnoea. If you have sleep apnoea this means your breathing stops and restarts multiple times during your sleep, which can mean your brain is not getting enough oxygen overnight.

Sleep apnoea can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Poor sleep due to sleep apnoea can also lead to daytime drowsiness, which can impair daily functioning and increase the risk of accidents. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnoea your GP may refer you to a sleep physician, or perhaps an otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

Snoring that is not caused by sleep apnoea is called primary snoring and is generally not considered especially harmful to health, although it can disrupt the sleep of those around you.

Snoring treatments

Because there are many different reasons for snoring, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right treatment for you will depend on the cause of your snoring. You should start by talking to your doctor. They can do a physical examination or give you a referral for a sleep study to help determine the most likely cause. 

Here are some of the snoring treatments available.

Lifestyle changes

Certain lifestyle changes can help with snoring, and are worth trying as a first line of treatment.

If you snore because you’re overweight, your doctor may suggest a new eating and exercise plan. Even moderate weight loss has been shown to reduce or stop snoring, especially if it’s caused by sleep apnoea.

You might also be advised to:

• avoid sleeping pills, tranquillisers and muscle relaxants 
• try alternatives to medication for anxiety and sleep problems, such as cognitive behavioural therapy
• avoid alcohol for at least four hours before going to bed
• give up smoking.

Positional therapy 

Many snorers snore only when they sleep on their backs. In this position the tongue and throat muscles relax, and slump backwards, causing a partial blockage of the airway. If this is you, sleeping on your side may reduce the problem.

Positional therapy involves techniques designed to make you change  position to one where you don’t snore, usually on your side.

Anti-snoring pillows

Various anti-snoring pillows claim to prevent snoring by holding your head in a certain position – perhaps to encourage you to sleep on your side, or to ‘correct head and spine alignment’. 

Unfortunately, given that they’re such a simple solution, experts doubt a pillow could hold a person in one position for the whole night, particularly if they’re prone to tossing and turning.

Vibrating devices

More sophisticated positional therapy devices use vibrations to gently encourage the wearer to change positions without disrupting their sleep. 

Sleep Health Foundation spokesperson associate professor Darren Mansfield says such devices are recommended by more and more sleep physicians thanks to their efficacy and relatively low cost compared with other treatment options, although he notes that compliance can be variable.

Night Shift

One of the most commonly prescribed positional therapy devices is the Night Shift Sleep Positioner. This is an electronic device worn around the neck that vibrates when the wearer sleeps on their back, training them over time to sleep on their side. They cost about $480, or you can rent one if you’d like to try it out first.

DIY solution

If you don’t want to shell out almost $500 on a sleep positioner, you can try the much cheaper tennis ball technique (yep, that’s its official name), which involves placing a tennis ball into a pocket sewn onto the back of your pyjama top, making it uncomfortable to sleep on your back. 

Oral devices

A mandibular advancement splint (MAS). is an oral device that forces the lower jaw forward, increasing the air cavity at the back of the throat. They’re very effective and are recommended as the go-to treatment for primary snoring and are also a good option for people with apnoea who can’t tolerate a CPAP machine (see below). However some people do report that they are uncomfortable to wear.

The best MAS devices are those customised to the individual by a dentist specialising in sleep medicine – DIY models bought from the chemist are a lot cheaper, but not as effective.

Getting a MAS fitted

To have a MAS fitted, you’ll need to see a dentist specialising in oral sleep medicine. You’ll probably need to have a sleep test to determine if a MAS is the right treatment option for you, which will require a referral from your GP or a specialist (such as an ENT physician).

You may need to go to the dentist a few times in the first few months for adjustments. Other potential negatives include dry mouth, irritation, dental discomfort and pain around the joint of the jaw.

A specialist we spoke to told us the devices cost anything from $1500 to $3000, depending on their construction and design, including the visits required in the first few months. You may get about half of this back on private health insurance. 

CPAP machines

The most effective treatment for sleep apnoea is the CPAP machine and studies have shown it’s also an effective treatment for primary snoring. By forcing air into the airways through a nasal mask, it prevents tissue in the throat from collapsing and cutting off the air – and therefore oxygen – supply. And in keeping airways open, it  also prevents snoring. The air pressure on a CPAP machine is set manually, usually by a sleep physician. 

Daunting to some

The prospect of using a CPAP machine, especially if it’s only for snoring rather than sleep apnoea, can be daunting – the notion of wearing a mask all night can put some people off, and people feel embarrassed about all the equipment or concerned about the effects on their bed partner. Once people have started using it, problems may include a dry mouth and/or nasal passages (though you can get a humidifier) and air leakage (you may need a different mask).

But these machines do work. They’re not cheap – on average, CPAP machines cost about $1500. But you can rent one for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference and to decide whether it’s something you could get used to.

Talk to your doctor about whether it could be right for you.

Nasal devices

Nasal devices, also known as EPAP devices, work by creating pressure when exhaling which keeps the airways open until you next inhale. This helps the user to breathe more freely through their nose rather than their mouth, meaning they may help the small number of people whose snoring is caused by certain types of nasal obstruction. 

Clinical trials have found EPAP devices effective, although they are notably less effective than CPAP machines for snorers with sleep apnoea. The experts we spoke to also pointed out that not many people choose to use them every night because they’re somewhat intrusive. That said, they can be useful, perhaps even a practical substitute for a CPAP machine, when you’re travelling or camping.

You can buy a reusable EPAP device for around $250, or disposable, single-use nasal strips for around $1 per strip.

Mouth tapes and chin straps

People who sleep with their mouths open are more likely to snore because an open mouth narrows the airway and the walls of your throat at the back of the mouth vibrate more easily than the walls at the back of your nose.

If you snore only when you breathe through your mouth, you can try one of the various mouth tape products that seal your mouth closed while you sleep. Mansfield says this can definitely help with snoring, and although specialised products may be more comfortable, regular tape can also do the job (and costs a lot less).

Chin straps are another product that aims to improve snoring by preventing mouth breathing, but studies have found conflicting evidence about how effective they are at treating sleep apnoea and snoring.

Muscle toning

Snoring happens when the muscles of the upper airway relax, obstructing the flow of air through the mouth or nose. Myofunctional therapy (throat and tongue exercises) tones these muscles and has been shown in some studies to improve both sleep apnoea and snoring.

Muscle toning treatments are likely to work best when the cause of snoring is unknown, rather than when there is an obvious anatomical cause (such as excess tissue due to obesity or enlarged tonsils).

While myofunctional therapy is generally delivered by a speech pathologist, the Soundly Reduce Snoring app aims to deliver the therapy remotely, by coaching users through myofunctional therapy exercises using a game format. The app is currently free and data collected is used as part of a research study to evaluate the efficacy of myofunctional therapy in reducing snoring and sleep apnoea. 

While these exercises have the potential to relieve snoring, the Australasian Sleep Association recommends myofunctional therapy should only be delivered by an experienced speech pathologist, also noting that it requires a lot of effort on the patient’s behalf to deliver a small improvement in snoring.

New gadgets

The latest anti-snoring gadgets harness a range of technologies such as AI, throat sensors and microphones. Some of the most popular new gadgets include:

Hupnos eye mask

The Hupnos is a ‘smart’ eye mask that combines an EPAP device with positional therapy. 

The mask (which costs $US99 plus shipping) uses an AI-powered app that detects when the wearer is snoring. It uses vibration to first encourage the wearer to change positions. If the snoring continues, the mask increases the pressure in the EPAP device attached to the nostrils. 

Mansfield says that although he’s not familiar with the Hupnos, the combination of positional therapy and EPAP could work well.

“Both therapies can be effective on their own, so combining them is a clever idea” he says.

The Smart Nora

The gentler equivalent of a jab in the ribs from your bedfellow, this $379 ‘smart’ product is a positional therapy device that consists of a padded pillow insert and a microphone that can detect the sound of snoring. When snoring starts, the padded pillow insert starts to inflate, causing the user’s head to shift positions and (hopefully) stopping the snoring before it can wake your partner.

Zeus sleep

This is a small electrical device that attaches to the underside of your chin while you sleep. The Zeus has sensors which detect the vibrations in your throat before you start snoring, which prompt it to deliver mild electrical impulses. The idea is that this contracts the muscles in the throat which causes your airways to open, preventing snoring without waking you up. The device ships from the UK and costs £‎150, plus shipping.

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There are several procedures that tighten the palate by causing tissue scarring and shrinkage, making it firm and less prone to vibration. 

Such procedures include some types of laser treatment (with a ‘non-ablative’ laser, which doesn’t remove or cut tissue), radio frequency treatment and ‘snoreplasty’ – injections of hardening (sclerosing) agents into the palate. 

Another palate-tightening treatment is an implant system, where small plastic rods are inserted in the palate, causing it to become firm and reduce vibration. 

Is snoring surgery worth it?

These treatments are considered less invasive than other surgical procedures, because they can be done under local anaesthetic, don’t involve cutting and stitching, don’t require much (if any) recovery time, and cause little pain afterwards.

But they may still cost thousands of dollars – without providing a long-term solution, meaning you may need to go back for more. Laser treatment in particular is falling out of favour because of its lower efficacy. There’s also some concern that scarring could make other treatments, such as CPAP, more difficult if needed in the future.

More invasive surgical procedures can help with snoring in particular cases – for example, if you aren’t overweight but have a large palate, a nasal blockage, enlarged tonsils, or an enlarged tongue that’s causing obstruction.

Children who snore

For kids, snoring and nighttime breathing difficulties may be linked to learning difficulties, aggressive behaviour and hyperactivity.

Parents should look out for symptoms including:

• making noises such as snoring or gasping
• restlessness in bed
• grinding their teeth
• talking in their sleep
• sweating
• bedwetting
• sleepiness or irritability in the morning.

Dr Mark Levi, a dentist and paediatric craniofacial dental sleep medicine practitioner, says that although many of these behaviours are common, you should still pay attention to them.

“These issues are becoming increasingly prevalent in children, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored,” he says.

If your child is showing these symptoms, your GP can refer them to an ENT specialist, who will check for evidence of crowding in the airway. Your child can also be referred for a sleep study for a closer look at what’s happening when they sleep.

Treatment options for children

Over-the-counter treatments should not be used on children, as their effectiveness and safety for children haven’t been confirmed and some products may interfere with a child’s development.

Treatment options include surgical removal of the adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillectomy), or your child may need to have an oral appliance fitted to expand the upper and lower jaw, opening up the airways.

Dr Levi, who is trained in fitting these oral appliances, says he often refers dental patients to work too with osteopaths, chiropractors or orofacial myofunctional therapists to get the muscles of the face to work better.

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Sleep – for something we spend a third of our lives doing, we’re not having an easy time of it.

In a survey of 1000 Australians conducted in April, ����Vlog found 91% had trouble sleeping at least once in the preceding 12 months.

Not content with just trying to count sheep, consumers are investing in getting some shut eye, with 62% of respondents telling us they had recently bought a product they hoped would improve their sleep.

Among the most popular bedroom buys were the usual suspects, including pillows and mattresses, but also air conditioners, heaters and fans.

But when you’re faced with enough options to make you want to have a lie down – including 47 different types of mattress – how do you know which product will fulfil your dreams of getting a decent night’s rest?

To stop you from tossing and turning over a bad bedroom investment, we’ve asked our expert testers for their advice on choosing the right products for a good night’s sleep.

Pillows

Having somewhere soft to rest your head is a good start if you’re wanting to upgrade your sleep setup. 

So, it’s no surprise that pillows topped the list of sleep purchases, with 28% of those surveyed indicating they had purchased a new pillow to try to get some more shut eye.

����Vlog director of reviews and testing Matthew Steen advises pillows are just one factor in sleeping arrangements, warning that a new one won’t necessarily guarantee better sleep and one type of pillow won’t be perfect for everyone.

“It’s going to depend on what you want and are used to,” he explains. “Our testing results give you a good starting point, but ultimately we give people a lot of filters to work with (including the pillow filling used) because there are so many variables in having a good sleep.”

����Vlog pillow reviews measure the comfort and support each pillow provides to different resting heads (side versus back sleepers, for example) and our test also simulates the ageing process to see how well each model performs over time.

Mattresses

Mattresses were another favoured buy for people looking to sink some money into their slumber, with 14% of survey respondents telling us they had recently invested in one to improve their sleep.

����Vlog mattress expert Peter Zaluzny says while comfort and support are important factors to consider, it’s also worthwhile appraising mattress stability if you’re going to be sharing it with someone else.

����Vlog assesses stability by measuring the oscillations that occur in each mattress following a 17.5kg impact that simulates the turning body of a sleeping person.

Our reviews also assess comfort when the mattress is brand new and after a simulated eight years of use, coming up with an overall comfort retention score.

Finally, Peter notes there are some ground rules you should follow when browsing for a new mattress, starting with “never shop tired”.

“Every mattress feels like the most comfortable bed in the world when you’re exhausted,” he explains, adding that if you share a bed with someone, you should get them to try any mattresses with you for a more accurate representation of how you rest at night.

“Also, take all the time you need,” he suggests. “Leave, come back, try mattresses multiple times if you have to and don’t let salespeople pressure you into buying before you’re ready.”

Fans, heaters and air conditioners

Almost four in 10 people surveyed said they had air temperature and humidity control in their sights when investing in making their bedroom more suitable for a snooze.

����Vlog heating and cooling expert Chris Barnes says if you sometimes find it too hot (or too cold) to sleep, an air conditioning unit might be your best option.

“A reverse-cycle air conditioner can not only cool the room down on a hot night, but warm it up on a cold one too,” he says. “When the temperatures are extreme, it’s the most effective and energy-efficient option.”

When shopping for a cooling appliance, Chris recommends making sure it has adjustable airflow settings, as this can also have an effect on your sleep.

“Look for an air conditioner with a good range of fan speeds, as you’ll want it on a quiet, low speed setting at night,” he suggests. “Ceiling and pedestal fans also need a low speed setting that’s gentle but still effective, so they can deliver a quiet but useful breeze.”

The same rule applies if you’re looking to warm things up, with a good range of settings a must-have if you’re going to run a portable heater all night.

“Column and convection heaters are often a good choice for bedrooms, as they’re usually safe to leave running for a long time,” Chris advises. “We wouldn’t recommend any heater with exposed elements, such as a radiant heater, for overnight use.”

����Vlog air conditioner, pedestal fan and heater reviews score units on their airflow, temperature and noise performance, while our ceiling fan reviews include a specific bedroom score that rates the product’s ability to move air without disrupting sleep.

Whether you’re buying for overnight heating, cooling or both, it’s also vital to make sure an appliance doesn’t have any bright indicator lights that could disturb your sleep.

Products to avoid

Those we surveyed also told us about a number of purportedly slumber-inducing products they had bought that were more of a nightmare than a dream come true, including a nasal spray one respondent labelled “damn silly”.

Steen says he isn’t surprised, noting “there’s no shortage of products that promise more than they can actually deliver,” adding that “those seeking a restful night’s sleep can be particularly vulnerable to these kinds of claims”.

In 2018, we gave Bioglan Melatonin Homeopathic Sleep Formula a Shonky for using the word melatonin on its packaging, despite being a homoeopathic formula that didn’t contain any actual melatonin and wasn’t backed by any evidence that it could actually help you sleep.

We’ve also looked into weighted blankets and found expensive products making big claims, but without much reliable evidence about their efficacy. Health experts have also expressed their scepticism about whether these items can actually improve sleep quality.

If you are struggling to sleep, it’s best to consult a medical professional before pinning your hopes on a cure-all purchase.

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To help you find the best incontinence pads on the market, we tested nearly 50 different products from nine brands, assessing their ability to absorb moisture and keep you feeling dry. 

Here are the best and worst performers. 

Which brands performed well?

If you’re on a budget, we have some good news: two supermarket brands performed really well in our tests, and they’re among the cheapest on offer. 

If you’re an Aldi or Coles shopper, you can buy their own-brand incontinence pads with confidence – they received some of the highest scores in our testing. 

However, if you shop at Woolworths, we’d recommend you avoid the supermarket’s own-brand pads. Despite being priced well, they were among the lowest-scoring pads we tested. 

What about branded products?

Despite Tena being a recognisable name in the market, its products didn’t perform especially well in our tests – the best-rating Tena product only scored 66%. 

Poise is another well-known brand, but its scores were a bit hit-and-miss. Its Thin & Discreet Extra Pads were recommended by our experts, but other products from the brand failed to impress. 

We list the best and worst performers below to help you buy better. 

How we test incontinence pads

Obviously, you want an incontinence pad to absorb any leaks, but ideally you don’t want to feel like you’re sitting in a puddle. That’s why we test pads for both absorbency and how wet they feel after absorbing liquid. 

To do that, we first soak the pad for five minutes, then let it drain for 30 seconds. Then we roll it up to see how much water is squeezed out. The more moisture it absorbs, the higher the score. 

After that, we put absorbent paper on top of the pad and record how much moisture is absorbed by the paper. This helps us assess how wet someone will feel when using the product. A high score in this test indicates someone would feel more dry, whereas a low score indicates someone would feel more wet when using the product.

What are the best incontinence pads?

These pads are all recommended by our experts. 

Aldi Sana Extra Plus Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 82%
• Price per pad: 25 cents

Aldi Sana Regular Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 77%
• Price per pad: 21 cents

Aldi Sana Overnight Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 77%
• Price per pad: 30 cents

Always Discreet Long Pads Plus

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 76%
• Price per pad: 85 cents

Always Discreet Long Plus Pads Plus

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 75%
• Price per pad: $1.06

Coles Assure for Women Extra Plus Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 75%
• Price per pad: 38 cents

We recommend incontinence pads with a ����Vlog Expert Rating of at least 70% and at least 70% for absorbency. 

Check our review of the best incontinence pads to see which other products are recommended by our experts. 

What are the lowest-scoring incontinence pads?

These are the products to avoid – they were rated only ‘borderline’ or ‘OK’ on our absorbency tests. 

Tena Pads Super

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Price per pad: $0.71

Tena Discreet Ultra Thin Pads Long Length

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 59%
• Price per pad: $0.27

Depend Mens Shields

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 60%
• Price per pad: $0.45

Tena Pads Maxi Night

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 60%
• Price per pad: $0.64

Tena Discreet Ultra Thin Pads Standard Length

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 60%
• Price per pad: $0.27

Woolworths Confidere for Women Extra Plus Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 61%
• Price per pad: $0.35

Woolworths Confidere for Women Regular Pads

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 61%
• Price per pad: $0.23

The post The best and worst incontinence pads from our tests appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• Types of incontinence products
• What to look for
• Which incontinence product do you need?
• How much do incontinence pads cost?
• Can you use incontinence pads during your period?
• How do you dispose of incontinence products?

One of the most difficult things you’ll encounter when buying incontinence products is trying to compare the offering between brands, which is why we decided to test all the incontinence pads we could find on the market. 

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is where, for any number of reasons, the muscles of the bladder or bowel have poor control, resulting in loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel motion, faeces or wind from the bowel (bowel incontinence). 

Types of incontinence products

Sometimes incontinence products are used for a short amount of time during medical procedures, or a longer period if the symptom is longer lasting.

There are three main types of products to manage incontinence:

• liners (light leakage)
• pads (moderate leakage)
• underwear (heavy leakage).

What to look for

There’s so much variation in the language that brands use to describe their products, it can be very difficult to compare your options. Here are some of the basic features you’ll come across.

Absorbency

Within each of these categories, there are levels of leakage the products are designed to suit. Manufacturers tend to use images of ‘droplets’ on their packaging to describe their absorbency rate, but they all use different ratings so it’s tricky to compare between brands. 

Wet feeling

Some products are better than others at protecting you from feeling wet.

Thickness of product

Some pads, liners and underwear are thicker than others, which can affect how discreet you think the product looks and feels.

Size

Manufacturers use various phrases to describe the size of the product, such as long, extra, regular, medium, super… and then there’s the actual size each product is available in, which can include long, regular, light, S/M/L/XL, and ‘one size fits all’. Sometimes these relate to length, sometimes flow of leakage – again, all relative within brands and with zero relation between brands.

Gender

Some products define the gender they’re recommended for – this seems to be marketing in many cases, apart from the pouch characteristic which has a design to accommodate the male appendage.

Other claims

Other claims products may make include:

• dermatologically tested
• suitable for sensitive skin
• odour control
• latex free
• PEFC FSC or Sustainable Forest Initiative Certified.

Which incontinence product do you need?

Your doctor, continence nurse or GP can advise you on the type of product to look for, and many manufacturers offer free samples so you can try before you buy. This is a great option that we recommend you take up, and we’ve indicated in our test results comparison table which brands can send you a free sample.

First though, you’ll need to know just how much leakage you’re prone to – this is the best indicator for what product you’ll need. 

There are some simple tests your GP can use to help assess this.

How much do incontinence pads cost?

The per product cost for incontinence pads can range from 21 cents to $1.33. 

Depending on how often you need to wear them, this can add up, so look to buy in bulk or on sale where possible. There are also financial subsidies for continence products available in certain circumstances.

For those that don’t qualify for subsidies, some ingenious consumers have identified that nappies are actually much less expensive in many cases when it comes to underwear-type incontinence products, so they buy these along with adhesive strips – after some DIY work on the nappies (cutting though the waist restraint), they have a budget option.

Can you use incontinence pads during your period?

While they may look similar, incontinence pads and sanitary pads are not the same, as the fluid and odours associated with incontinence and menstruation are different. Incontinence pads are designed to protect against bladder leaks and also control urine odours, while sanitary pads are designed to absorb blood during menstruation, postpartum bleeding or during recovery from vaginal surgery. They both come in a variety of sizes and absorbency levels.

How do you dispose of incontinence products?

All of the continence pads we reviewed are disposable in a bin. None of them are made from biodegradable materials and none can be flushed down the toilet.

The post How to buy the best incontinence products appeared first on ����Vlog.

How we choose what we test

With a range of products on the market, what makes us choose one incontinence pad to test over another? As with the majority of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular brands on the market and what you’re most likely to see in stores.

We check shops to see what’s available and we survey manufacturers to find out about their range of products. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. 

We do this so we can be sure the products are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test

We send incontinence pads available from major supermarkets to a laboratory for testing. We also calculate the value for money of each product by working out how much each pad costs based on the pack size.

Absorbency score

Each product is tested according to the industry’s Rothwell method. We soak the product for five minutes, drain it for 30 seconds, then roll it to express water. The product is then weighed and scored based on the amount of solution that it was able to absorb. 

Wet feeling score

Layers of absorbent paper are placed on top of each pad and the amount of solution absorbed is recorded. This helps us assess how wet someone will feel when using the product. A high score in this test indicates someone would feel more dry, whereas a low score indicates someone would feel more wet when using the product. 

Test criteria explained

We recommend incontinence pads with a ����Vlog Expert Rating of at least 70% and at least 70% for absorbency. The ����Vlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• absorbency score (80%) 
• wet feeling score (20%).

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