Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

Latest Episodes:

#4 - White Noise and Sleep Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

White noise is everywhere, and it's association with sleep has been discussed for decades. But what exactly is white noise, and does it play a role in optimizing sleep?
In this episode we will cover:

the science of white noise and what it represents
how the history of white noise machines has evolved
relationships and research looking at white noise, sleep, memory, and cognition
the recent research linking white noise to brain damage
the emergence of pink noise and how it differs from white noise
differences between other "colors of noise" specifically purple/violet, grey, brown, and blue.
binaural beats, what they are, and the science linking them with better sleep

NOTE: Your AirPods are working fine. The recording software used to record this episode completely suppressed all of the noise samples played during the episode. To hear examples of the noise colors mentioned in this podcast, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise

Produced by: Maeve Winter

Twitter: @drchriswinter
IG: @drchriwinter
Threads: @drchriswinter
Bluesky: @drchriswinter
The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!

#3 - Sleep and Menopause: Why Don't We Talk About This More? Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

When I wrote my first book The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It, I made the decision to cut the chapter on menopause because of length. I have regretted that decision ever since. It is by far and away the most common question I get asked about the contents. "Is there a chapter about menopause?"
No, but there is a podcast episode entirely devoted to the topic. In this episode we will cover:

the basics of menopause and how it affects sleep
some data that tries to understand the impact menopause has on women's sleep architecture
the consequences of hot flashes and how predictive they are regarding sleep issues
how menopause can lead to a higher incidence of sleep disordered breathing
the role of hormone replacement therapy
how other factors could influence sleep in the menopausal population
strategies for minimizing the impact of menopause on sleep

Produced by: Maeve Winter

Twitter: @drchriswinter
IG: @drchriwinter
Threads: @drchriswinter
Bluesky: @drchriswinter
The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!

#2 - Insomnia: It's Not What You Think It Is Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Insomnia treatment in this country is hindered by one simple fact - very few people really understand what insomnia is and how it is defined, including many physicians who treat adults and kids with insomnia. In this first (of many) episodes about insomnia, we will:

start with the basics of insomnia definitions: What is insomnia?
understand that insomnia is not and individual who "can't sleep"
touch upon the academic definitions of insomnia and how they can often take away from the patient problems by arbitrarily relying on useless timeframe parameters
learn (via a story that admittedly goes on way too long) that anything, even a Fantasy Football game, can precipitate a night of transient insomnia
understand that a patient's perceived disability is at the core of the insomnia definition, and only the patient gets to define that disability
begin to uncover that an individual's perception of what happen when they sleep is not always an accurate representation of what actually happens, creating problems both diagnostically and therapeutically for many clinicians and patients

Produced by: Maeve Winter

Twitter: @drchriswinter
IG: @drchriwinter
Threads: @drchriswinter
Bluesky: @drchriswinter
The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!

#1 - Welcome/Introduction to Sleep Unplugged Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

There are few things more universal and fun to talk about than sleep. We all do it, and it impacts everyone's health and sense of wellness. For the last 30 years, I have been involved in some way or another with sleep. I began studying sleep as a researcher in the early 1990s and am now a neurologist who specializes in treating sleep disorders in adults and kids. In this episode, I share a bit about my background in sleep science and how I have come to spend three decades in the field. Future episodes will include:

practical sleep information, tips, and strategies for resting better and understanding sleep
interesting and illustrative patient stories
experiences with the many professional sports organizations for whom I work
excerpts from my books
debunking sleep myths and misinformation
explanations and responses to current research and popular topics
items that go beyond traditional biomedical sources like music and art that involve sleep

Produced by: Maeve Winter