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 cont...

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 hy...

The United States Military has a fascinating relationship with sleep. What organization needs it more, but often finds themselves neglecting it. In this episode we will:Explore the sleep challenges of military training schoolsDocument the sleep deprivation of military officersReview the Air Force regulations related to sleepList the various obstacles that often prevent those serving in the military from getting adequate sleepDiscuss the consequences of inadequate sleep in the armed forcesTouc...

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Sleep Unplugged podcast, here is a all-encompassing list of 100 habits and good practices healthy sleepers employ. How many are you currently following? In this episode we will:Highlight ways to improve your sleepThink about items that might indicate your sleep is not optimizedEvaluate our habits, activities, food, and attitudes around sleepUse these 100 tips as a proactive guide for improving sleep and knowing which previous episodes of the podcast might...

In episode 62, we began to look at the role sleep plays in memory. In episode 65, we looked at the condition REM behavior disorder and how this neurodegenerative condition is often associated with telling sleep disorders. We continue both of these dialogues in this episode. In this episode we will:Look at research linking sleep disorders and inadequate sleep to dementiaSingle out Lewy body dementia as a particular concern when sleep is chronically disruptedDetermine how much sleep seems to be...

One of the aspects of insomnia that can be both a perpetuating factor and and target for treatment is exploring dysfunctional beliefs. In this episode we will:Explore different types of insomnia beliefsUnderstand how these beliefs impact insomnia therapyLook at the relationship between dysfunctional sleep beliefs and depression and alcohol abuseExamine sleep beliefs in the general public as well as younger/university populationsDetermine ways in which these beliefs can be targeted in insomnia...

Dreams happen, and unfortunately, sometimes those dreams are nightmares. For most, these terrifying nights are few and far between. For a small few, nightmares become a frequent and unwanted nighttime norm. In this episode we will:Revisit parasomnias, in this case nightmare disorder, and determine what defines itDifferentiate this disorder from night terror/sleep terror disorderExplore the epidemiology of the problemList its underlying causesReview the medications often used to treat the prob...

Narcolepsy is a misunderstood medical disorder and as such, it generates some fascinating stories and anecdotes when you treat narcolepsy. In this episode we will:Discuss the difficulties narcolepsy patients go through just refilling their medicationsDissect the idea of narcolepsy patients and abuse of their drugsEvaluate the enthusiasm the medical community has for the treatment of narcolepsyConsider some of the less obvious obstacles narcolepsy patients faceUnderstand the difficulties with ...

The health benefits of yoga are widely espoused, but for many, the belief is that the benefits are derived mainly from the physical nature of the poses or asanas. The breathing exercises and techniques (pranayama) are often ignored. In this episode, we will: -Explore the sleep-specific benefits of breathwork to not only bring oxygen to the brain, but to also influence the energy of the body (referred to as prana or chi). -Review the various stages of breathing and why many individuals...

The health benefits of yoga are widely espoused, but for many, the belief is that the benefits are derived mainly from the physical nature of the poses or asanas. The breathing exercises and techniques (pranayama) are often ignored. In this episode, we will: -Explore the sleep-specific benefits of breathwork to not only bring oxygen to the brain, but to also influence the energy of the body (referred to as prana or chi). -Review the various stages of breathing and why many individuals...

Though widely regarded as pseudoscience for many years, there has been a recent resurgence in the practice of earthing/grounding. This practice aims to dissipate excess electrical charge and reestablish electrical homeostasis. While the act of grounding is common practice in high voltage appliances, is it really necessary of beneficial in the human body when currents are miniscule in comparison. In this episode, we will: Explain the concept of grounding in modern electrical wiringDiscuss the...

There are no shortage of insomnia treatments and we have covered many on this podcast. In honor of April Fool's Day, we spotlight 10 unusual treatments and continue our yearly tradition of sharing the funniest listener comments about the show. In this episode we will: Discuss biofeedback as a potential insomnia therapyEvaluate the act of rocking or vibration as a sleep-inducing actionLook at various mental tricks like pretending your alarm has just gone offTouch upon visualization techniques...

When it comes to substances affecting sleep negatively, it seems alcohol and caffeine hog all of the spotlight. But what about nicotine? While the number of younger individuals who smoke is declining, the advent of vaping and oral nicotine pouches is rising, and the effects on the sleep of the users is not positive. In this episode we will: Examine the effects of nicotine on sleepLook at the effects of nicotine withdrawal on sleep metricsUnderstand the potential bidirectional relationship of...

In a 2017 study, approximately one-third of the respondents reported having fallen asleep driving within the last month. Sleepy driving is a massive public health problem leading to thousands of preventable accidents, deaths, and injuries every year. In this episode we will: Define drowsy drivingOutline the scope of this public health problemEvaluate the causes of drowsy drivingLook at factors making drowsy driving more likely or dangerousCharacterize the level of impairment in terms of...

One of the most interesting trends in sleep is the growing number of hotels and hospitality centers that are embracing sleep as a primary focus for their patrons. Equinox Hotel in New York City has fully embraced the topic in almost everything they offer their guests from spa experiences to a room that goes "Dark, Quiet, and Cool" with the touch of a button. In this episode, we will: Highlight some efforts by hotels in the past to fold sleep into their servicesContrast the Equinox Hotel's...

Over the last two years, we have covered several circadian rhythm disorders...jet lag disorder and shift work disorder as well as covering the general concept of a circadian rhythm. For some individuals, they have an intrinsic desynchrony  with the times they are expected to be awake. In this episode we will: Review the role of the circadian rhythm in sleepTouch upon previously covered circadian disordersDefine chronotype its relationship to quality sleepExamine the parallels with circadian...

Weighted blankets have soared in popularity over the past decade and they often promise better sleep. What exactly dose the evidence say and for what practical purposes can these products be useful? In this episode, we will: Review the nervous system pathways for perceiving touch and pressureDescribe how pressure has a calming effect on the body via parasympathetic system activationExplore the origins of more widespread weighted blanket use in the autism and sensory integration...

A simple piece of cloth over the eyes can have a powerful effect of the quality on an individual's sleep. The evolution of the sleep mask has been profound and the available literature of their effectiveness, particularly in the hospital setting has be extensively studied. In this episode we will: Outline the effects of sleep masks on sleepReview the large body of evidence supporting the use of sleep masks in hospitalized patientsList the specific medical populations that have been shown to...

Picking the right mattress and pillow is important. Choosing the right material that goes over your mattress is equally essential. Bedding materials come in many forms and they can make a difference in your sleep experience. In this episode we will: Look at the research about bedding and disease modificationUnderstand the temperature-regulating properties of various fabricsExplore cotton as a bedding material and how the addition of performance fibers can enhance the cooling properties of the...

It's hard to find insomnia without a healthy dose of fear or anxiety. Few individuals make an appointment to see a sleep specialist only to let them know that the situation is no big deal and frankly enjoyable.  Fear not only plays a huge role in the development and worsening of insomnia, it also offers an insight into a potential solution. In this episode we will: Review the incidence of anxiety in this country and the percentage of individuals diagnosed with anxiety who also have...

The research on sleep and cell phone use is negative and there is an overwhelming amount of it. The negative impacts on sleep affect all age groups and demographics. While the impact on mood, memory, and attention is clearly sizable, the impact on sleep exists independently from these effects.  In this episode we will: Examine the effects of cell phone use in three populations: adults, college-age students, and adolescents/school-aged childrenDetermine the scope of cell phone use at bedtime...

While brain fog has been described in many contexts, its incidence has soared since Covid. While the existence  of brain fog is clearly real, its lack of clear definition and delineation from similar disorders does inject diagnostic and therapeutic confusion into the clinical setting. In this episode we will: Offer elements central to the definition of brain fogTouch upon the demographics and incidence of the disorder, with particular attention to CovidReview the history of the disorderLook...

If catathrenia (Episode 30) is the parasomnia that bothers everyone except the sleeper, exploding head syndrome (EHS) is the parasomnia the only bothers the sleeper, and very much so at that. Imaging being awakened by a sound so loud and dreadful that you awaken certain that you are about to die. In this episode we will: Define exploding head syndromeReview the key characteristics of the parasomniaExplore the history and legend of EHSExamine the demographics of the disorderUnderstand the...

In 2023, the Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an 82-page advisory entitled, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation" and it details the health consequences of social isolation and lack of social support. In the report, sleep was specifically highlighted as an aspect of health affected by social isolation. This highlights an important connection and potentially and avenue of insomnia treatment. In this episode we wilL Define loneliness and social isolationExamine the scope and...

Happy new year! It's 2024 and with a new year comes resolutions to join a gym and get into shape. The podcast has explored exercise and sleep relationships before, but is there a benefit to lifting weights? In this episode we will: Touch on current gym use statisticsRevisit the impact sleep has on weight training, recovery, and athletic gainsDetail the impact on specific strength training exercises and sleepUnderstand the impact of weight training on sleep quality and depression indicesLook...