At the root of many sleep disorders of sleep fragmentation. It's a big part of sleep medicine that many people don't know much about. In this episode we will: Define sleep fragmentationContrast the differences between arousals from sleep and awakenings from sleepUnderstand why sleep fragmentation goes unnoticed by providers and patients alikeList some common causes of sleep fragmentationReview how sleep fragmentation appears in sleep dataTouch upon research about sleep fragmentation spec...

The media can be a fantastic source of information about insomnia, or it can be a lens that distorts and confuses the issue. In this episode we will: Contrast to contemporary insomnia articles from popular mediaUnderstand the difference between causation and relationshipsLearn how the use to percentages can distort the scale of an effectRead how media frequently confuses "sleep deprivation" and "insomnia"Evaluate an example of how media can positively educate and help readers understand insom...

For the first time in my career, two team for who I work will meet for the championship, this time it's the Los Angeles Dodgers (my 10th year with the club) and the Toronto Blue Jays (my 3rd year with the club). In this episode we will: Discuss my work in MLBTalk about how these two teams came to sleep medicine as a performance toolLearn how anybody or any organization could benefit from sleepProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter...

We talk endlessly about caffeine, alcohol, and sleep—but what about plain old water? In this episode, we will: Dive deep into the fascinating relationship between hydration and sleep qualityExplore how dehydration disrupts sleep architecture—raising heart rate, cortisol, and even airway resistanceLearn how hydration supports thermoregulation, helps maintain slow-wave sleep, and prevents the dry-mouth awakenings familiar to CPAP users and frequent flyersBreak down the latest research, from stu...

Whether you’re skiing in Aspen, hiking Kilimanjaro, or just wondering why sleep feels so strange in the mountains, altitude messes with your rest in fascinating ways. In this episode we will: We’ll explore the biology of what’s really happening in the brain and body when oxygen thins outFind out why your sleep becomes fragmented and restless, and what recent research reveals about the role of hypoxia, periodic breathing, and even oxidative stress in your slumber at altitudeShare new data on h...

We’ve all heard the sleep hygiene advice: turn off your screens, keep your room cool, avoid caffeine after lunch. While we can agree that these practices set the stage for better sleep, does engaging in them actually help those with sleep problems? In this episode we will: Examine the intended role of sleep hygieneLook at what research tell us in terms of using sleep hygiene as a tool for insomnia treatmentDive into what it means for an insomnia therapy to workDifferentiate between acti...

Few parenting debates stir more passion than how to help a baby sleep. In this episode, we will: Explore the science and controversy behind “cry it out,” Ferber/check-and-console, and gentler alternativesReview what research says about sleep outcomes, stress, and attachmentThink about this concept in relationship to varyting sleep needsUnpack the safety concerns around bed-sharing and why guidance is so dividedOffer practical takeaways so parents can choose an approach that works—and feels ri...

When it comes to sleep, sometimes silence is golden—and sometimes it needs a little help. In this episode, we’ll explore the world of earplugs and earbuds designed to quiet the night and protect your rest, because sometimes the best way to protect your dreams is to put a little something in your ear. In this episode we will: Determine why reducing noise can make such a difference for falling asleep and staying asleepList the best earplugs made specifically for sleep—like BET SLUMBUR, Loop, Sw...

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 generatorsHig...

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: Expl...

When it comes to insomnia, many people begin their journey staring at the clock after yet another middle-of-the-night bathroom trip and wondering: is it my bladder or my sleep that’s broken? In this episode, we will: Define what nocturia is—and what counts as normal versus abnormalExplore why most people wake up first and then feel the urge to urinateReveal how nocturia can be a surprising red flag for obstructive sleep apneaDistinguish between urinary problems that happen all day long versus...

We’ve all been there—different bed, strange noises, mystery thermostat settings—and suddenly your “dream” vacation or business trip comes with a side of sleeplessness. But hotel sleep doesn’t have to be a gamble. In this episode, we will: Explore why the “first night effect” sabotages rest in unfamiliar placesShare 10 science-backed strategies to optimize any hotel room for sleepLearn how to manage temperature, light, and noise—even when you can’t control the buildingDiscover how bringing sma...

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 post...

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”Highli...

We all think we know what insomnia is: trouble sleeping, tossing and turning, maybe staring at the ceiling until sunrise. But does the public really have a clear picture of insomnia and does that impact the massive health impact it has? In this episode, we will: Explain how insomnia is not a single problem but a progressive condition, starting with a few rough nights and, in some, developing into a chronic disorderExplore why insomnia is often a disorder of perception, where patients signific...

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 fati...

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...

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 linge...

The Atlantic recently published a feature article entitled "Why Americans Can't Sleep." The article was written by Jennifer Senior, and fantastically accomplished writer (2022 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing, the 2022 National Magazine Award for Feature Writing, and the 2024 National Magazine Award for Columns & Essays) and details not only her own personal struggles with insomnia, but also attempts to dive deeper into sleep science and what she describes as a "public health emergency....

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 Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky:...