Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

We’ve all seen it—or maybe we’ve been told we do it: twitching, jerking, or kicking in the night. But when does this common sleep quirk cross the line into a diagnosable condition? In this episode, we will:Define Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) and explain how it differs from simple nighttime movementsExplore its surprising prevalence in both adults and children—and its strong ties to Restless Legs SyndromeReview leading theories of cause, from dopamine to iron to spinal generatorsHighlight intriguing new research, including cardiovascular links and AI-based detectionDiscuss treatment strategies—from iron replacement to dopaminergic medications and lifestyle approachesProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Did you know…Only 57% of Americans now say science has a mostly positive effect on society—down 16 points since before COVID?And yet, 83% of people still trust their doctor more than anyone else when it comes to vaccine advice?We’ve all lived through it—the pandemic reshaped our health, our trust, and our divisions, and those dividisions have been on full display recently as hearings have highlighted a growing distrust in the medical and scientific communities. In this episode, we will:Explore why COVID was not just a disease, but a collective trauma—and how trauma often drives blame and denialExamine the promise of MAHA (Making America Healthy Again) and the peril of dismantling expertise in the processConfront the deep health inequities that make the U.S. lag behind other developed nations in life expectancy and outcomesAsk why preventive medicine never fulfilled its promise in our healthcare systemReview how vaccines remain one of the greatest public health successes—even as skepticism growsUnpack why rare side effects feel amplified when billions of doses are givenRevisit the vaccine rollout as both a modern miracle and a “fog of war” moment with inevitable misstepsChallenge the myth of “doing your own research” and why interpretation of science matters more than accessDiscuss how shaming during the pandemic hardened divides instead of fostering changeLook ahead: why questioning science is healthy, but abandoning it could cost us the cures and treatments of the futureProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Frequent nighttime urination can leave many wondering if their bladder or sleep is the real issue. The podcast delves into nocturia, examining what is normal versus abnormal. It explores how waking for bathroom trips can signal underlying conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. Common myths like cutting off fluids to solve the problem are challenged, providing a fresh perspective. Listeners are reassured that waking up once a night may not be a health concern at all, shedding light on this common yet misunderstood topic.

Traveling often leads to sleepless nights, but it doesn't have to! Discover the notorious 'first night effect' that messes with your rest and learn ten science-backed tricks to create your perfect sleep oasis in a hotel. Expert insights show how to tackle pesky light, noise, and temperature issues. Plus, bringing small comforts from home can soothe your restless mind. Don't let jet lag win—there are effective ways to keep your circadian rhythm in check while on the go!

Headaches don’t punch the clock at bedtime — in fact, for many, night is when they strike hardest. In this episode, we’ll:Explore how disrupted sleep can trigger and intensify migraines, cluster headaches, hypnic headaches, and chronic daily headacheExamine the role of sleep apnea in “morning headaches” and how CPAP therapy can make them disappearReview the latest research linking insomnia treatment to reduced headache burden — including new findings from a Seattle study on prazosin for posttraumatic headache in veteransBreak down the brain mechanisms connecting sleep and pain, from hypothalamic circadian control to CGRP signalingOffer practical, research-backed strategies for patients and clinicians to address both sides of the equationProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

At every medical appointment, certain rituals unfold: height, weight, blood pressure, and—almost reflexively—temperature. But in asymptomatic patients, how often does that temperature reading actually matter? In this episode, we will:Examine the origins of routine temperature checks and their current clinical valueExplore data showing how infrequently temperature readings in well visits lead to meaningful outcomesIntroduce the idea of sleep as a more relevant and revealing “vital sign”Highlight how simple questions—like “Do you snore?” or “Are you sleepy during the day?”—can uncover high-impact sleep disordersContrast the diagnostic yield of temperature checks vs. sleep screeningConsider why sleep is still overlooked in routine care, despite its massive public health implicationsReimagine a future where sleep quality is as routinely measured—and meaningfully addressed—as blood pressureProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Insomnia is more than just sleepless nights—it's a complex condition often misunderstood by the public. The discussion reveals how perceptions can distort reality, leading to underestimated sleep duration. Outdated public health messaging and myths contribute to ineffective treatments. A new six-level framework for managing insomnia is introduced, highlighting the importance of education and early intervention. Furthermore, the talk emphasizes that sometimes, doing nothing new after a rough night can be the best approach, alongside proven techniques like CBT-I.

In our modern world of blue light and burnout, it’s easy to forget that sleep has always been shaped by the forces of its time. In this episode, we travel back to the Gilded Age—a period of dazzling progress, deep inequality, and curious beliefs about sleep. In thenis episode, we will:Explore how medical professionals in the late 19th century understood sleep—and misunderstood insomniaLearn what physicians were prescribing to sleepless patients in an era of opium, electricity, and moral fatigueContrast the sleep practices of the working poor and the wealthy elite, and how each class shaped our modern assumptionsExamine the “rest cure,” neurasthenia, and other diagnoses born from a world grappling with industrial changeDiscover the surprising technologies and bedding innovations that started appearing in Gilded Age bedroomsReflect on how beliefs from this gilded era still echo in our bedrooms today—from sleep hygiene to the fear of lying awakeProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

We’ve talked extensively about sleep and its science, but what happens when sleep becomes the story itself—on screen? Television has portrayed sleep, sleeplessness, and dreaming across decades of iconic storytelling. In this episode we will:Highlight classic TV episodes where sleep or sleep disorders play a central roleExamine how sleep is portrayed in multiple genresReview how accurately sleep is represented in some of the most famous showsDiscuss why sleep deprivation and dreaming are such powerful storytelling devicesExplore pop culture portrayals of sleep studies, insomnia, and dream manipulationShare fun facts and behind-the-scenes trivia from episodes of The X-Files, Star Trek, The Simpsons, Schitt's Creek, and moreProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

We’ve explored sleep apnea in depth on the podcast—its causes, its severity, and the many ways it’s treated. But what happens when the sleepiness lingers, even after treatment? In this episode, we will:Define sleep apnea, what it is—and what it isn’tLearn how excessive daytime sleepiness is defined, both on its own and in the context of sleep apneaReview the most common and effective treatments for sleep apneaExplore how often treatment truly resolves sleepiness in patientsConsider why lingering sleepiness is frequently missed or dismissedList treatment options for residual EDS in individuals with sleep apneaProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!