Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

When we think about the deleterious effects of poor sleep, cardiovascular and cognitive/psychological consequences typically come first to mind. One of the less obvious and less understood effects is that of cancer which was listed as a probably carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2007. Since that time, there has been considerable efforts to understand the role...

The relationship between sleep and blood glucose is a powerful one and it impacts our weight, the way we eat, and countless other health metrics. In this episode we will: Introduce the concept of glycemic control Define insulin sensitivity and how it relates to diabetes Learn why sleep deficiency increases blood sugar levels Stress the role that cortisol and growth hormone play in glucose regulati...

While the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires continue to burn in California, firefighters and other first responders work tirelessly around the clock. What does their ability to bypass sleep for 48-60 hours mean in terms of individuals with insomnia, and what does this kind of work do to their own health? In this episode, we will: Frame the ability to temporarily derive ourselves of sleep as being...

When it comes to insomnia treatments, there probably is no better intervention than exercise. If you are not already convinced, in this episode we will: Discuss the benefits of exercise on various sleep parameters and insomnia specifically Outline the amounts of exercise that seem to make the most difference Explore the reasons why exercise might improve sleep quality and minimize the manifestatio...

Believe it or not, but the 3rd Annual Sleep Unplugged "Sleepy" Awards are upon us again. What better way to close out the year of sleep than to recognize some truly exceptions individuals and organizations within the field of sleep.  Join me as we celebrate some of the brightest stars in this podcast episode: The 2024 Sleepy Award winners are: Social Media Warrior                    Dr....

For many people who have sleep apnea, they look to surgery as a means to a "greater awakening" which can at times, lead to disappointing outcomes. What exactly is meant by "sleep apnea surgery" and why doesn't everyone get it? In this episode we will: define sleep apnea and how we measure its severity discuss the adults who are most appropriate candidates look at the vario...

Sleep apnea is the bread and butter of the sleep clinic and the most common cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. But do you really know the extent to which sleep apnea can ravage your health? Is it the cause of aging? In this episode we will: Explore Brandon Peters' new book The Sleep Apnea Hypothesis Dissect his question, "Are you getting older or are you getting sleep apnea?" Li...

We started a dialogue about napping way back in episode 17. The napping discussion continues. In this episode, we will: Discuss reasons for napping Revisit the current literature around performance Look at new research on napping and cognition and memory Reexamine the research on nap length and performance List the components of a perfect nap environment Touch upon the potential negatives associat...

Insomnia treatment often involves pills and when those pills fail to solve the problem (or even if them seem to help) the desire to discontinue the pills may arise. In this episode we will: Discuss the overall theory of sleeping pills Highlight the use of Trazodone as a sleeping aid Walk through strategies and useful ways to discontinue sleeping pills Explain why individuals wean oof of medication...

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 products Beadgear pillows and linens Bearaby weighted blankets and unique pillows Boka...

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 selection Go through a comprehensive list of items to help...

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 state Review the reverse situation of how CPAP therapy affects short and long-term patient weight Understand the consensus opinion about sleep deprivation and weight gain Sort thr...

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 factor Discuss how long-term insomnia can lead to complex grief Differentiate different grief subsets: late lif...

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 dark differentiate 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 disappears list some causes of fear of the dark unders...

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/bedwetting differential between primary and secondary enuresis discuss the differences between monosymptomatic and non-monosymptomatic enuresis uncover the risk factors for enuresis list the causes of the disorder review the treatments for enure...

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 inequalities Focus on research linking the threat of hurricanes to declining sle...

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...

Over the past few years, the topic of sleep has permeated the media landscape like few other topics in science and medicine. This has led to not only a fascination withing the public about the topic, but also a wild west-like race to financially capitalize on sleep products. But which products are better than others? In this episode, we will: discuss the ways in which the media "rank" va...

On September 16th, 2024, Apple announced their new sleep apnea detection feature for their Apple Watch device had received FDA approval for the detection of mild to moderate sleep apnea. While this is an exciting development in the consumer medical field. In this episode, there are some concerns about this technology. In this episode we will: Touch upon the numbers when it comes to sleep apnea Und...

As summer comes to an end, it's a good time to examine how seasonal change tends to affect our sleep. In this episode we will: Refresh our memories about circadian factors related to sleep Look at seasonal trends in sleep times, bed times and wake times Evaluate factors such as light, temperature, and exercise as well as other surprising sleep variables that change with the season Examine var...

For the first installment of the Sleep Unplugged Book Club, we will examine Andrew Spector's new book Navigating Life with Restless Legs Syndrome. This also marks a revisiting of the topic we covered in episode #13 (Restless Legs Syndrome: You Gotta Move). In this episode we will: Introduce Dr. Andrew Spector, a Duke University professor of neurology and restless legs expert Update and supple...

There is no topic in sleep more likely to incite a riot between sleep experts than the concept of a sleep debt. Does it really exist? Can a sleep debt ever be repaid? If so, how long? In this episode, we will: Define sleep debt Examine a new population study on the effects of sleep debt on cardiovascular risk Attempt to consolidate the available research into guidelines for dealing effectively wit...

We have touched on inflammation as a central pathway connecting sleep disorders and dementia (episode 99), injury (episode 70), pain (episode 48), and cardiovascular disease (episode 35). In this episode, we shine the spotlight directly on inflammation and learn how it is connected to sleep. In this episode we will: Examine the reciprocal relationship between inflammation and sleep Understand how...

Somewhere between normal nocturnal breathing and sleep apnea exists a strange entity. This condition, often debated in terms of its mere existence is upper airway resistance syndrome, and knowing about it can be the difference between solving your sleep-related breathing woes and continuing your struggles. In this episode we will: define upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) review the concept a...

Sleep walking is probably the most recognized and discussed parasomnia, but it can also create significant confusion and danger for those affected. In this episode, we will: Define sleepwalking  Differentiate somnambulism and noctambulism Evaluate how age and genetics affects the condition Characterize the parasomnia List the causes of sleep walking Discuss disorders associated with the disorder T...