Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

Bruxism or teeth grinding is a remarkably common occurrence and often happens during our nightly sleep period, disrupting sleep quality and continuity. In this episode we will:Define bruxismExplore the epidemiology of the conditionLook at some of the causes of teeth grindingTouch upon proposed mechanisms of bruxismReview recent bruxism researchList common treatments for the conditionProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Weight loss drugs are everywhere and recently Zepbound (tirzepitide) made big news when it became the first FDA-approved sleep apnea therapy for mild to moderate sleep apnea. In this episode, we will:Introduce and explain weight loss medicationsReview the studies that convinced the FDA to approve Zepbound for sleep apneaProvide an overview on this class of weight loss medicationsEvaluate the risks and determine who is a best match for this therapyTouch on the cost and difficulty in getting these drugs approvedRevisit Apnimed's SynAIRgy press release and how it relates to our discussion in episode 110 of the podcastProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Dive into the latest sleep research from the 2025 conference in Seattle! Discover how AI is revolutionizing sleep tracking and why napping boosts performance. Explore the intriguing connections between sleep, nutrition, and menstrual cycles. Learn about the growing focus on adolescent sleep and the critical role of personalized sleep insights. Uncover the challenges researchers face in funding crucial studies and the importance of tackling sleep misinformation. It's a lively discussion that highlights the future of sleep health!

So far on the podcast we had talked about sleep apnea as well as the treatments CPAP and surgery. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss another popular treatment option: oral appliances. In this episode we will:Review the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apneaOutline the mechanism via which oral appliance workList the pros and cons of oral appliance for surgeryDiscuss how the oral appliance fits into the landscape of sleep apnea therapyProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

One of the biggest obstacles in insomnia treatment is the perceived threat of physical harm related to the sleep difficulty. It's a major cog in the insomnia-fear-arousal cycle. In this episode we will:Utilize two case studies to illustrate the disruption that fear of harm causes with insomnia recovery Discuss insomnia is a disorder of distress, not dangerTalk about the lack of any evidence that acute sleep loss causes medical harmChallenge the catastrophizing that characterizes insomniaContrast behavioral and cognitive therapies over medical therapiesProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

When we did the snooze button episode of the podcast, it all started with a declaration that the snooze button was the worst thing for sleep. While it's fairly clear the snooze button is not, what is? In this episode, we list the top 10 worst things for sleep. In this episode we will:List what I believe the top ten worst things for sleep areProvide a nugget of research to back it upThis will be a dynamic list that we will update from time to timeProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Sweating at night is a common complaint in the sleep clinic. While night sweats are often thought of as being the exclusive domain of post-menopausal women, their causes can be surprisingly varied. In this episode we will:Review the epidemiology of night sweatsList the cause both benign and more concerningDiscuss how night sweats specifically impact sleep quality and architectureReview interventions to help with the problemProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

When it comes to symptoms that cause us to seek medical help, there are few that top pain. Pain occupies a unique space within the world of sleep, in particular back, neck, and shoulder pain. In this episode we will:Provide an overview of sleep-related painExplore the relationship between sleep disturbances and painLearn how sleep disturbances can be a strong predictor of the development of painExamine studies linking REM sleep loss and increased pain indicesReview specific sleep research on the various regions of painList treatment options and weigh their effectivenessProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Over the last several years, adult 'bedtime stories' have become a ubiquitous internet method used by many to help themselves fall asleep at night. In this episode we will:Define bedtime storiesExplore what makes them useful for some as a bedtime ritual for sleepDiscuss the role these techniques play in insomniaDissect the ways in which these stores could actually work against someone overcoming their insomniaThink about the specific role these stories can play in healthy insomnia recoveryProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

There is nothing more pleasing to the soul than wandering into a space that makes you feel protected, present, and at peace. Many elements involved in the creation of a comfortable bedroom sanctuary have been covered on the podcast. Now, we work to synthesize them all into your Zen den masterpiece. In this episode we will:Think about how room color choices affect relaxation and sleepDesign the lighting that will best support our sanctuary's missionConsider how decorations can work to sooth or distract from the goal of restEvaluate the role of air filters in our room designLook at materials on the floors and walls in terms of sound dampeningDefine 'biophilic design' and explore how it will shape the direction of the roomEmbrace organic and natural bedding materials instead of syntheticsRemove clutter from the space and thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of electronicsCreate a "travel version" of our room choices when possibleProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!