Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

We often talk about the amount of sleep individuals need creates confusion for insomnia patients. In this episode we dive deeper into this concept with a way in which to think about sleep need. In this episode we will:Revisit sleep need Understand why 8 hours is not right more many individualsTouch on the complicated nature of determining how much sleep one needs to sleepDefine the "Good Night Rebound Bias"Learn how perception impacts sleepDescribe how sleep journals can be made into more powerful tools for sleep needLearn how to calculate a Internight Sleep Variability ScoreProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Sleep apnea is a very common medical problem that affects a large portion of the population. The treatment options leave much to be desired including what is by far and away the most common treatment: the CPAP device. This reality has led to the quest to find a medical treatment for sleep apnea, and one investigational drug AD109, has received some early attention. In this episode we will:Discuss the history of medications being tested as potential treatments for sleep apneaReview how sleep apnea is classified in terms of its severityList the current therapies for sleep apneaDescribe the two components of AD109, and the mechanism of action of these drugsEvaluate the design and results of a recent study of AD109 in mild sleep apneaPut in perspective what these result mean in real world situationsProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Aging is a certainty of life, and with it comes changes in sleep. Understanding these changes is central to life-long pursuit of healthy sleep. In this episode we will:Discuss whether or not older individuals sleep less than younger individualsEvaluate the role of schedules and schedule flexibility in the sleep of the elderlyLearn why the circadian rhythm diminishes with ageSpotlight the role of exercise in the sleep of seniorsLook at various sleep disorders of the elderlyList the consequences of poor sleep in older individualsProduced 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 menstrual cycle has long been associated with sleep. Emerging research is uncovering more of a bidirectional relationship with sleep. In this episode we will:Provide an overview of the menstrual cycleEvaluate the reciprocity of the relationship between sleep and the menstrual cycleDiscuss the roles of estrogen and progesterone in the cycle and how their relationships might affect sleepReview the 4 stages of the menstrual cycle and how they often impact sleepLook at interventions related to personal knowledge of your own menstrual cycleEpisode Written by Maeve WinterTo participate in the study mentioned in the podcast, use the link below:https://tccolumbia.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M5sOpYMa1Ld0mGProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Like it or not, the concept of a sleep divorce seems like it is here to stay. Sleeping in separate beds or bedrooms is a popular option for solving sleep issues, but is it the right choice? Are there better options. In this episode we will:Look at historical research about partner sleepDefine a sleep divorceIntroduce the Scandinavian Sleep MethodUnderstand how sleep timing/chronotype plays a role is sleep compatibilityLearn how sleep-related movements change over time in a relationshipEvaluate the role of relationship conflict in sleep healthFocus on snoring as a common variable leading to a sleep divorceList interventions that may help avoid a sleep divorceTouch upon light as a source of sleep conflictProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

"You are getting sleepy" is what I think about when I think of hypnosis, and given that it has been looked at as a treatment for insomnia, it makes a lot of sense. While the research linking sleep and hypnosis is a both thin and evolving, there are studies to learn from. In this episode we will:Look at the history of hypnosis as a sleep/insomnia toolDefine hypnosis and learn why a failure to agree on a definition of hypnosis hurts researchList common signs of hypnosisEvaluate two literature review studies on hypnosis and insomniaFocus on insomnia in insomnia subgroups: mild cognitive impairment, post-menopausal women, and childrenReview techniques for hypnosisProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Lately, much seems to be made about the relationship between air quality and sleep. Air purification systems have jumped on the sleep bandwagon as have good old fashioned house plants. But is there any evidence supporting this connection? In this episode we will:Look at research connecting air quality and sleep quality among various populationsEvaluate the research linking air quality measures and sleep metrics in different countriesList the possible mechanisms through which air quality might affect sleepDiscuss some prospective studies aiming to create different air quality sleeping environments and determine how they do or don't affect sleep and associated variablesTouch upon the link between air quality and general performanceExpand upon the role indoor plants play in relationship to an individual's sleep and moodAnswer the questions as to whether or not plants can effectively filter indoor air quality in a meaningful wayProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

While we have touched on sleep deprivation in other episodes, particularly as it relates to confusion with the concept of insomnia, in this episode, we devote the entire program to a discussion of the topic. In this episode we will:Define sleep deprivationGo through the symptoms of sleep deprivation and research into many of these signsTouch upon how we look for and measure sleep deprivationContrast sleep deprivation with insomnia List some common causes of sleep deprivationDiscuss treatment options and relative validity of these interventionsProduced 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 2024 SLEEP meeting just concluded in Houston where the greatest sleep minds come together and share the amazing academic and scientific projects and research they have been working on. Each year, the Sleep Unplugged podcast brings you some of the more noteworthy research and practical data from the meeting. In this episode we will:Review studies demonstrating poor sleep leading to selecting more processed and higher sugar content foods.Examine how extroversion leads to higher caloric content at nightUnderstand how circadian misalignment in adolescents negatively affects athletic performanceDispel the notion that vitamin supplementation can make up for inadequate sleepPonder how menopause might affect heart rate variability at night and cardiac riskEvaluate the use of personalized light therapy to reduce insomnia in shift workersFind out how napping affects one night of sleep deprivationLook how alcohol negatively affects heart rate at nightSee how surprising data in veterans shows insomnia more related to risk than sleep apneaRevisit cannabidiol use for insomnia and what the data showsProduced 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 requires a multidisciplinary approach to solve and what's right for one individual may not be for another. In this episode, I introduce eleven different products that I have been sent and talk about who might benefit from their use. In this episode, we will:Discuss Ryze mushroom beverage mix and learn how it might help promote relaxation and serve and a late-night coffee substituteReview the Python H2 Bionic Molecular Hydrogen Water Bottle and learn more about emerging research on hydrogenated water's potential benefitsTest the Moonbird, a portable screen-free breathing and biofeedback device measuring HR and HRVDemo the Chill Pill, a small device that delivers a pulsating stimulus that could help relax some individuals at nightContrast the features of the Sleep.me mat with wearable sleep trackers and how the passive mat might benefit some sleepersTest out sleep earplugs by Swanwick and BET Slumbur as well as a new sleep mask my SwanwickList the different ways the Organic Human Bean Body Pillow could benefit a multitude of sleepers and their various sleep obstaclesRevisit the GroundingWell matDive into the Aura Circle multisensory sleep maskLearn how the FireFly recovery system might be helpful for some RLS patients in terms of and "off label" way of disrupting the sensations they feel in their legs*None of these products are designed to diagnose or treat medical problems. You should discuss all potential sleep interventions with your physician before trying them.  Produced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!