From my America Out Loud Pulse podcast with Dr. Barry Krakow –https://www.americaoutloud.news/sleep-heals-brainwashing-is-a-good-thing/
These days everything seems so contentious. War, political verbal sniping, no-fault theft, and the incessant natter on multiple 24-hour news stations is unavoidable. The networks feed us a steady diet of bad news for the sake of keeping us glued to their stations. Our cell phones, once a miracle, have become a curse as people expect you to be available 24/7. Consequently, many people are chronically on edge and without knowing why. After the Covid lockdowns people have remained isolated and lonely.
The one thing that we can count on to put it all behind us is a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, a good night’s sleep is elusive for some. Even our legislators have been caught napping on the job. Are impeachment trials and senate hearings that boring? Or are our representatives grossly sleep-deprived from pondering national issues?
Sleep quality and duration have dropped significantly in the past 50 years. At least one-third of people, and in some studies 50 to 60 percent, experience insomnia. Some folks with work-related reasons, like shift workers or physicians on call are common causes of sleep problems. Some sleep scientists postulate cultural reasons for sleep loss, including stress, people over-extending themselves, using social media at night, and exposure to blue light from screens. And poor sleep quality leads to changes in cognitive function and decreased motor skills. One 13 year study from the National Health Interview Survey of U.S. adults aged 18 to 84 found that low-quality sleep is associated with obesity, heart disease, diabetes and early death.
And on the lighter side, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
- Some car rental contracts make you promise not to drive on fewer than six hours of sleep.
- Today, 75% of us dream in color. Before color television, just 15% of us did.
- Whales and dolphins literally fall half asleep. Each side of their brain takes turns so they can come up for air.
- Sea otters hold hands when they sleep so they don’t drift away from each other.
My guest today will discuss all things sleep – so please —- stay awake!
Websites to explore:
- barrykrakowmd.com
- lifesavingsleep.com
- sleeptreatment.com
- nightmaretreatment.com
- Substack link for free sleep newsletter:https://fastasleep.substack.com/
Sign up at: https://fastasleep.substack.com/embed
Bio
Dr. Barry Krakow, MD is a board certified internist and sleep medicine specialist who has worked in the field of sleep research and clinical sleep medicine for more than 30 years, pioneering innovative techniques for the treatment of chronic nightmares, chronic insomnia, complex insomnia, upper airway resistance syndrome, obstructive and central sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder. He is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in the Department of Psychiatry at Mercer University School of Medicine in Georgia. Currently, he trains psychiatry residents in sleep disorders medicine and supervises their sleep medicine clinic. His most recent book is entitled Life Saving Sleep.
