Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

We started a dialogue about napping way back in episode 17. The napping discussion continues. In this episode, we will:Discuss reasons for nappingRevisit the current literature around performanceLook at new research on napping and cognition and memoryReexamine the research on nap length and performanceList the components of a perfect nap environmentTouch upon the potential negatives associated with nappingConclude by looking at napping and cardiovascular risk as well as risk for dementiaProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

The podcast dives into the challenges of stopping sleep medications, particularly focusing on trazodone. It highlights the complexities of treating long-term insomnia, emphasizing the need for thorough sleep studies. Through a compelling patient case, it explores the subjective effectiveness of sleep aids and the psychological barriers to overcoming dependency. The discussion provides valuable strategies for safely reducing medication reliance while stressing the importance of communication with healthcare providers.

The Sleep Unplugged podcast is back to solve your holiday shopping dilemmas  with some of my favorite sleep product companies. In this episode, we will explore a host of sleep-themed gift ideas and product recommendations. In this episode, we will feature the following products:GroundingWell grounding/earthing productsBeadgear pillows and linensBearaby weighted blankets and unique pillowsBoka nano-hydroxyapatite toothpasteDore and Rose mulberry silk sleep maskLoop Dream earplugs for sleepLuminette 3 light therapy glassesLunya washable silk pajamas Mattress Firm king bed for queen priceQuietLab anti-snoring mouthpieceRematee anti-snoring beltRyze mushroom coffee and hot chocolate mixSleeper Hold travel pillowSwanwick blue-blocking glasses and lighting solutionsThe Sleep Solution/The Rested Child booksYogasleep Dohm Nova noise machine and Rohm+ travel noise machine and speakerzDen personal/pet sleep environmentZzzquil breathing stripsProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

With the holidays fast approaching, many will take to the skies bound for destinations all over the world. Sleeping on a plane can be the difference between a pleasant Thanksgiving event and a contentious meal ending in frustration. Being prepared to sleep on a plane is an artform. In this episode we will:Discuss the ins and outs of seat selectionGo through a comprehensive list of items to help with sleep on a planeList some strategies for hitting the ground running when you arriveProduced 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 a complicated relationship between sleep and weight, and it's worth unpacking this to some degree. In this episode we will:Look at the data on weight loss in sleep apnea patients and how it impacts disease stateReview the reverse situation of how CPAP therapy affects short and long-term patient weightUnderstand the consensus opinion about sleep deprivation and weight gainSort through the different data on weight gain and one theory about the mixed resultsProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Grief is a both a common cause of acute insomnia and a massive perpetuating factor of chronic insomnia. The relationship between grief and insomnia/sleep is complex and bidirectional. In this episode we will:Outline the relationship between grief and sleep and how it acts as a causative factorDiscuss how long-term insomnia can lead to complex griefDifferentiate different grief subsets: late life spousal bereavement, complex grief, parental griefFollow patterns of grief: resilient, recovering, and chronic Evaluate the treatment of insomnia as a means to combat chronic griefProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Fear of the dark is a common phobia seen in children that can greatly affect their sleep. In this episode we will:define fear of the darkdifferentiate between nyctophobia (fear of the night), scotophobia (fear of the dark/what the dark could be hiding),  or lygophobia (fear of twilight)describe the ages that it commonly presents, peaks, and disappearslist some causes of fear of the darkunderstand why there may be an evolutionary cause for the disorderdiscuss treatments aimed at minimizing fear of the dark and its impact on sleepProduced 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 have touched upon bedwetting in several episodes, but we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic. In this episode, we will:define enuresis/bedwettingdifferential between primary and secondary enuresisdiscuss the differences between monosymptomatic and non-monosymptomatic enuresisuncover the risk factors for enuresislist the causes of the disorderreview the treatments for enuresistouch upon adult enuresisProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Climate change is not only a growing threat to our planetary survival, but it is also a major player in the health and safety of people everywhere. Our sleep health does not escape the widening reach of global climate consequences. In this episode we will:Discuss the research linking climate change to sleep and sleep inequalitiesFocus on research linking the threat of hurricanes to declining sleep quality and quantity in adults and childrenUnderstand that the sleep risk extends well beyond the acute weather disasterRecognize that the threat extends to first responders and workers at all levels who deal with climate crisesProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Up until recently, getting more sleep was not exactly cool and absolutely not something to brag about. Gen Z may be changing that perception on social medial as they brag about getting more sleep, better sleep, and pushing the concept of sleep perfection to the "max." In this week's episode, we will:Highlight Kate Lindsay's September 8, 2024 New York Times article entitled How The Pursuit of Perfect Sleep Can BackfireDefine "sleepmaxxing"Discuss the pros of celebrating more/better sleep publiclyRelate this movement to the term orthosomniaUnderstand why this movement could have very negative implications for the insomnia communityConsider where our optimal placement on the sleep spectrum should beProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!