Low doses of melatonin can also help jet-lagged travellers who awaken in the middle of the night to fall back to sleep.

BBC: Prescriptions for jet lag

Joe must have had a number of medications and he was also concerned about his ability to bring in a device he wears in his sleep to help him breathe.

FORBES: When Prison Is Your Next Stop After Christmas

LEDs can also be used to change the atmosphere in the room with the flick of a mouse or help you sleep better.

FORBES: 5 Myths On LED Lighting

The researchers said that knowing more about the risks faced by people with the sleep disorder could not only help doctors to advise their patients, but also to work in the years to come to come up with ways to protect them.

BBC: Sleep gives brain disease warning