The Sleep Forum Podcast

By Ruth Marion Len May, CEO of EndoCanna Health, understands the importance of healthy sleep for optimal mental and physical health.  May knows there is a connection between our days and nights.   In this podcast, May tells our listeners that the right cannabinoid will make all the difference in the the world and save you time and money.  Consumers seeking cannabinoid therapeutics will try, on average, 6 to 8 different products before they find one that meets their needs for quality, consistent outcomes and accessibility. "We created EndoCanna Health to answer one question: How do we help everyday people find a CBD or cannabinoid product that's right for their unique needs, says May. Cannabis and CBD products often produce different effects for users - and, according to EndoCanna Health, this is down to our DNA. Each individual has a different endocannabinoid system, which metabolizes and reacts in a unique way.  Len May explains it all!  Please listen to this podcast to discover how choosing the perfect cannabinoid for your body has never been easier. About Len May:  Len May is the CEO & Co-Founder EndoCanna Health, a Bio-Science Technology company. Think of them as a 23 And Me for Cannabis. An accomplished public speaker, he is on a mission to educate about the healing powers of Cannabis. In this episode, we'll talk about Cannabis, DNA, how your genetics play a role in your Canna experience, and how to talk to your Boomer parents about trying Cannabis. As a Certified Medical Cannabis Specialist in Medicinal Genomics, Len has an in-depth knowledge of genomics, cannabinoids and terpenes, and their interaction with the Endocannabinoid system. This knowledge has allowed him to consult on the creation of Cannabinoid formulations designed to address specific health concerns. May has more than 25 years of Cannabis and genomics experience and holds a Masters of Medical Cannabis and a certificate in Endocannabinoid Formulation from the Institute for the Advancement of Integrative Medicine. His areas of expertise include the workings of the Endocannabinoid System and how genetic expression plays a role in human experiences. A pioneer in the Medical Cannabis industry, Len's work has been instrumental in shaping the current legislation and culture. He has held past positions as President of the Cannabis Action Network and Board Member and Lifetime Member of California Cannabis Association. He is the current chair of the CBDIA science board and is a stakeholder in some of the industry's most iconic brands. Len is also a published author of “ Making Cannabis Personal” and hosts the popular “Everything Is Personal” podcast. About EndoCanna Health:. We're a team of passionate, dedicated, and committed professionals. Many of us have been involved with cannabis therapeutics for more than 10 years – as researchers, scientists, and more.  Developed by a team of passionate, committed professionals, leading geneticists and cannabinoid researchers, our patent-pending DNA test and genetically aligned formulations create optimal cannabis and CBD experiences for your customers. Our DNA is the blueprint for precision cannabinoid therapeutics. EndoCanna Health's revolutionary ECS DNA array uncovers genetic variations which can then be matched with specific cannabinoid ratios and terpene profiles.  Genetically aligned cannabinoid formulations can lead to better experiences and outcomes for you, your customers or your patients. For more information, please visit EndoCanna Health.

By Ruth Marion I just love this doctor.  If you want to hear an and educational and entertaining perspective on sleep, this podcast is for you! Dr. Christopher Winter is a sleep neurologist, best selling author, advisor to professional sports teams, speaker and podcaster. Dr. Winter, Board Certified in sleep medicine by both the American Board of Sleep Medicine and by the American Board of Internal Medicine has practiced sleep medicine and neurology in Charlottesville, Virginia since 2004, but has been involved with sleep medicine and sleep research since 1993. As the owner of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine, CNSM Consulting and the Medical Director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center, Dr. Winter is not only an active participant in patient care, but a dynamic speaker and researcher on the science of sleep. A 2010 article in Trail Runner magazine described Winter as "the leading expert in the field of sleep disruption, in athletes and issues related to travel." Winter's debut book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It, was released by Penguin Random House on April 4, 2017.   Winter's second publication, The Rested Child, was released on August 17, 2021. Dr. Winter tells the listener's about his life in the field of sleep since 1993.  He discusses how and why he entered the field of sleep, where the idea to write his books came from and what he is working on now. Dr. Winter talks about his series called "Sleeping Around with Dr. Chris Winter" that explores the unique world of sleep and how people of vastly different careers prioritize rest in order to live happier and healthier lives.  Dr. Winter joins professional rock climber, a touring musician and a group of firefighters, living a day in their life, and then sleeping the way they do to understand how sleep helps them achieve their best in life and work. With each episode, the series emphasizes how sleep health can be a priority within any lifestyle or daily structure. Dr. Winter continues to work with sports teams to help them achieve the best sleep for maximum performance and now has a podcast of his called "Sleep Unplugged", an unscripted discussion on a wide range of sleep topics - from sleep disorders to current research and controversies in the field. No topic is off limits!  His mission is to continue to spread the word about the importance of sleep, sleep research, education and treatments. To reach Dr. Chris Winter, please go to this link.  We hope you enjoy this podcast and most importantly, sleep well!

In this podcast, Dr. Carol Ripple, a developmental Psychologist and Chief Program Officer at Pajama Program, tells us that what really matters is “bringing what we've learned from research and evaluation into practice and into policy.”  It all boils down to “how we are enhancing the well-being of children and families.” Marion asks what motivates Dr. Ripple at Pajama Program.  Dr. Ripple says, “The Head Start model is something I learned about very early on in my training, and it's so important to me because of the whole child approach.  What we know is that it is not just about school readiness but cognitive development as well.  It is understanding that all the systems that surround a child and family really need to be right and nurturing for that child to really be able to thrive.  And that is what drives me when I came to Pajama Program and still does today.” Marion asks Dr. Ripple to tell us about her bedtime routine and what it means to her. “Well, she continues.  I need 7 to 8 hours of sleep.  I do the usual bedtime brushing and washing and head to bed with the New York Times crossword puzzle.  That's how I wind down at night.” So why is the bedtime routine and sleep education so important to Pajama Program? We know that sleep is as important as exercise and nutrition but this is true PARTICULARLY for growing children.  Dr. Ripple talks about how children need sleep to be able to thrive, grow physically and mentally, develop a strong immune system, maintain a healthy weight, just to name a few.  Sleep helps children regulate their emotions so they can have better relationships with those around them.  Sleep helps promote good memory so children can do well in school. Dr. Ripple talks about what happens if children do not get enough sleep and that is scary.   Without sleep it makes memory and learning harder.  There is a growing body of research that shows children who are not getting enough sleep have lower test scores in math, literacy and phonics.  There is also a much higher risk for anxiety and depression. We talked about the how important a nighttime routine is and how important it is for caregiver's to instill this in their children.  It should be a comforting time for children and a time that signals to the child's mind and their body that it is time for sleep.  It's a great time to to make that connection with the child, whether it's through a book, listening to music or another quiet activity. When asked about a common sleep myth often heard, Dr. Ripple replies “We encounter a lot of caregivers who believe that preschool kids, for example, need 8 hours to sleep, because that's what we always hear.  In reality, younger children need more than that.  A child in preschool should get 10 to 13 hours of sleep every day.  Pajama Program and our sleep experts spend a lot of time combating that myth. Let's hear more about Pajama Program, Marion says. Dr. Ripple replies, “Pajama Program began in 2001 in New York City and is a national nonprofit.  We reach children and families across the 50 states.  Our mission is to promote and support a comforting bedtime routine and healthy sleep for children to help them thrive.  We work with children and families who are experiencing adversity, whether it's because of low income, or housing instability, or because a children is in the welfare or foster care system, those are the children we really seek to reach with Pajama Program, because sleep, for them, is the most challenged.” Pajama Program uses three approaches to help achieve this mission: First is sleep education for children and caregivers, stressing WHY sleep is so important.  We raise awareness around that and help with strategies for caregivers, in particular, but also to educators who are working with the parents and the children. Second is providing caring connections to children. We have Centers in New York City and Atlanta where we bring in volunteers to read with children,

"Prosomnus is North America's largest manufacturer of oral appliances", says Dr. Mark T. Murphy, Chief Dental Officer at Prosumnus.  In this podcast, Dr. Murphy explains to our listeners HOW an oral appliance can be an alternative treatment for sleep apnea. Most physicians will prescribe CPAP therapy but that does not always work.  For various reasons, studies have found that many people diagnosed with sleep apnea do not use their CPAP machine.  An oral appliance could be the answer. Listen to this podcast to hear more about ProSomnus, a pioneer in precision medical devices for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). IF YOU WANT TO MEET AND LEARN ABOUT ORAL APPLIANCES FOR OSA, CLICK HERE: ProSomnus is hosting a first, one of a kind symposium focused on the shift toward emerging therapies for people diagnosed with OSA. Leading sleep medicine clinicians will discuss their clinical, practical, and scientific perspectives on precision oral appliance therapy as an option for patients diagnosed with OSA who refuse or fail CPAP, cannot access CPAP due to the recall, or simply prefer alternative treatment. The two-day event will offer 12 continuing education credit hours and take place at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco from August 18-20, 2022. ProSomnus has organized over a dozen lectures and expert panels featuring leading clinicians and researchers from around the world, including: Prof. Dr. Olivier M. Vanderveken, MD, PhD. – ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, Antwerp University Hospital (Belgium) Dr. John E. Remmers, MD – A Renowned Clinician and Investor in the field of Sleep Medicine Dr. Phillip W. Neal II, DMD, ABGD – Co-author of the DoD/VA Clinical Practice Guideline on OSA, who as Chief Dental Surgeon, Operation Inherent Resolve was the first to provide Dental Sleep Medicine care to combat deployed US troops. Dr. Kent Smith, DDS, D.ABDSM, D.ASBA – Dentist, Founder of 21st Century Sleep, and Past-President of the American Sleep Breathing Academy Dr. Reza Radmand, DMD, FAAOM, D.ABDSM – Clinician, Lecturer + Researcher, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Prof. Dr. Marc Braem – University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Past-President of the European Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Dr. Aditi Desai, DMD, FAAOM, D.ABDSM – President of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine (BSDSM) and British Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (BADSM) Dr. Mitchell Levine, DMD, D.ABDSM – Dentist and Professor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Tennessee and Current President of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Dr. Michael Gelb, DDS, MS – Dentist, Author of the book GASP and co-founder of Foundation for Airway Health and the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry George Nierenberg, Award-Winning Director/Producer, Out of Breath Key sponsors of this inaugural event include 21st Century Sleep Seminars, Awaken2Sleep, Brady Billing, The Clinical Foundation of Orthopedics & Orthodontics, CharkEducation, Dental Sleep Profits, Dental Sleep Solutions (DS3), General Sleep, Kettenbach Dental, Nierman Practice Management, Pristine Medical Billing, SleepTest.com, and ZOLL Itamar Medical. Persons interested in attending can learn more and register here: ProSomnus is the first manufacturer of precision, mass-customized oral appliance therapy devices to treat OSA, which affects over 74 million Americans and is associated with serious comorbidities, including heart failure, stroke, hypertension, morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. ProSomnus's patented devices are a more comfortable and less invasive alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, and lead to more effective and patient-preferred outcomes. With more than 150,000 patients treated, ProSomnus's devices are the most prescribed oral appliance therapy in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.ProSomnus.com

By Ruth Marion In this podcast with Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, head sleep expert at Wesper, Rohrscheib begins by telling the audience that, "I comes from a neuroscience background with a heavy concentration in sleep.  I went from general sleep science to clinical sleep apnea, I've consulted to sleep technology companies and I've worked with corporations on fatigue management programs for their employees."  Rohrscheib holds a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science with Honours and a PhD in Neuroscience with a specialty in sleep genetics. She is a sleep consultant with over 10 years of experience in the field of sleep. "Wow, so you've been in every area of sleep science possible, says Marion.  Now, let's hear about Wesper". "I'll start by saying that Wesper is a home sleep testing company, a level 3 sleep diagnostic device, and a long term wellness device as well." With a level 3 sleep study, you use a sleep study kit at home that records your breathing activity, oxygen levels, and heart rate throughout the course of the night(s). Based on this activity, a level 3 sleep study tests your snoring and airflow and diagnoses if you have obstructive sleep apnea. Rohrscheib recommends that clients wear the device to get an accurate reading.  Some nights are better than others.  The more data the better the results.  We spoke about how Wesper also offers advice to their clients on improving their sleep hygiene or handling other sleep issues they might have.  It is an all inclusive sleep support system.  It has been proven that those patients who receive long term support are themes successful with the treatment of their sleep disorder, especially sleep apnea. Rohrscheib tells us that Wesper offers two pathways to patients.  If they want, they can start with their wellness device.  The Wesper wellness device will give a good indication if their is a problem and refer the person to the diagnostic test. Once the diagnostic test gathers enough data, a team of doctors will be able to accurately say what the person's breathing looks like and the diagnosis will be much more accurate. A meeting will be set up with Rohrscheib or another team physician to discuss the results of the test and recommend a treatment based on factors such as the severity of the breathing disorder and the patient's lifestyle choices. The important thing is to find a treatment that not only works but that a patient will use. After the treatment is prescribed, it is recommended that the at home sleep test is utilized often to make sure the treatment is working and the person is adhering to therapy. The patient has access to their own information each morning which helps keep them motivated and compliant to use the recommended treatment.  Physicians have more detailed information on the back end about the person's breathing to help guide them to prescribe the right therapy and monitor the patients progress. Last question for anyone who is thinking that Wesper is just another sleep tracker.  It is not.  Marion asks, "what makes Wesper different than your everyday sleep tracker"?  Rohrscheib says, "Wesper gives similar metrics but is so much more!  Wesper is FDA approved to diagnose sleep apnea at home." For more information, visit www.wesper.co We hope you enjoy this podcast.

By Ruth Marion "Dayzz is a cutting-edge, digital health start up located in Israel who provides end to end sleep care,” says Dr. Mairav Cohen-Zion, Chief Science Officer at Dayzz in this podcast. Dr. Cohen-Zion begins by telling our listeners about her impressive and extensive knowledge, education and experience in the field of sleep. As Chief Science Officer, Dr. Cohen-Zion is the person who is behind the research and design of Dayzz. Marion asks Dr. Cohen-Zion to tell our listeners what Dayzz can identify about your sleep and how it can help. She gives the listeners three key identifiers in the Dayzz platform. The app asks specific questions to identify any high risk sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia. The app connects with various data sources you might have to gather more accurate information. The app helps creates an appropriate sleep training program using CBT-I (cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia) or recommending a sleep doctor to seek additional treatment. Dr. Cohen-Zion tells the audience, "We identify four key issues in sleep...Insomnia, delayed sleep phase syndrome, high risk for sleep apnea, and insufficient sleep disorder.  The key is to identify the issues so they can take the next step and get the appropriate treatment.” For example, the app might identify insufficient sleep and reply with certain tips the person can try to fix the sleep problem. Dr. Cohen-Zion adds that “yes, Dayzz is a digital coach but Dayzz is so much more. We are a digital platform but also offer an additional feature which is a human coach." Human sleep coaches help motivate individuals and offer emotional and behavioral support that you cannot get from an app alone. The human element is very important to help people get the most out of the program and embrace it as best as they can. Dayzz is in English and the platform is currently being marketed to companies in the United States that are looking to offer a unique health benefit to their employees. With companies more aware of the correlation between quality of work and rested employees, this app is a game-changer for companies and corporations . We hope you enjoy this podcast.  For more information, please visit https://www.dayzz.com.

By Ruth Marion "Just like you, we've googled "sleep" in an effort to get an answer to our sleep problems, but so much of the information out there is vague and does not apply." says Teresa Denike, founder at Sleep Better NYC in this Sleep Forum Podcast. Denike is a board-certified clinical sleep educator, national speaker, and the founder of Sleep Better NYC.   Her expertise is in sleep apnea, sleep hygiene, and mindset for sleep and overall wellbeing.   After 14 years in healthcare sales and consulting, Teresa witnessed countless family, friends, and patients struggle through the typical pathways for sleep support. Sleep Better NYC was founded as a solution.  Sleep Better NYC provides coaching and care coordination.  They believe in a personalized, holistic approach to sleep and well-being which is why they created programs and content with a community of sleep experts. Denike tells the audience that the main mission of Sleep Better NYC is education and support.  Denike spends the time with sleep patients that the sleep doctors don't have.  Whether it be an oral device or a CPAP mask, Denike will work with the patient, monitor the patients compliance and also progress and interface with the sleep physician on patient's behalf. Sleep Better NYC is 100 percent virtual!  If a person comes to Sleep Better NYC before seeing a doctor, Sleep Better NYC can connect you with a doctor and a home sleep apnea test.  Marion asked Denike her thoughts on the home sleep tests.  "Technology is so advanced today that I would definitely recommend a home sleep test.  They are small, easy to use and accurate".  Denike also recommends an in lab test for someone with additional health concerns besides sleep or young children. Once diagnosed and given a prescription for a specific therapy, call Sleep Better NYC and they will answer any questions you might have, monitor your program and offer lifestyle tips to help improve your sleep. Marion asked Denike how they help individuals who come to them with insomnia.  Denike tells Marion how they offer an on line educational tool that individuals can use at their own pace.  The module uses the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy and includes hyperlinks to sleep and behavioral health resources. "If an individual exhibits any red flags, we immediately refer them to a therapist or psychiatrist," says Denike. At the end of the podcast, we had a fun conversation about sleep trackers and consumer wearables.  "They are interesting and pretty accurate but in the clinical world we hesitate because it is not accurate enough, says Denike.  Denike believes that sleep trackers can improve sleep habits as long as it does not become obsessive or cause further anxiety.  Denike recommends checking it weekly rather than daily. To hear the podcast, please click the link below.  To reach Teresa or Sleep Better NYC, please go to www.sleepbetter.nyc or @sleepbetternyc on instagram.

By Ruth Marion "I met Karen Moore several conferences ago before Covid and she had a great story that stayed with me for years," say Ruth Marion, The Sleep Forum.  Karen Moore is owner and creator of Pad-A-Cheek, a padding that fits on your CPAP increasing comfort and decreasing the lines on your face in the morning. Marion asks Moore to tell her story to the audience.  "It all began when I woke up one day and noticed these terrible lines on my face from my CPAP," says Moore. "In spring 2004 I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  I began my treatment and quickly realized it was hard to fall asleep with the new equipment. The mask was uncomfortable and the straps left marks on my face. It was challenging to keep air from blowing out the sides of the mask, or out of my mouth. I sorta slept that first night." What really bothered Moore was waking up in the morning and seeing marks from the headgear.  Moore decided to create her own solution and sewed flannel tubes that slid onto the CPAP mask.  She realized it was much more comfortable and she did not have lines on her face when she woke up.  She continued wearing the CPAP with the flannel covering for six months and learned to love the machine and the mask. What impressed me the most Moore's motivation to bring PAD-A-CHEEK products to as many CPAP users as possible, at a reasonable price.  As for customer care, it doesn't get much better than PAD-A-CHEEK.  Moore adds, "Should you have a question or concern, you can call directly and I will walk you through ordering the right product or answer any other questions you might have." To hear the rest of her story and all that PAD-A-CHEEK has to offer, please listen to our podcast.  If you are interested in purchasing the product, please go to www.padacheek.com

By Ruth Marion "I worked in the music industry doing sound for many years until one day, I experienced such a loud blast through the speaker that I literally hit the floor," says R. Scott Armbruster, founder and inventor for The Sound Pillow Sleep System.  He tells our listeners how the high pitched ringing in his ear never went away (since 1992) and that is Tinnitus.  According to the Mayo Clinic,  Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. “Armbruster, being a production industry expert, decided to look into ways to “distract” from his Tinnitus so he could sleep.”  He found a product that was sound in a pillow but needed much improvement, according to Armbruster.  He reinvented the product to be what he felt would be most effective to help someone with Tinnitus sleep better.  First, he improved the tracks that are available because everyone's brain reacts differently to different sounds.  Second, he wanted it to be user-friendly.  Third, he wanted it to be affordable for everyone. Armbruster spoke with Marion about the variations in sound and explaining that "white" noise is NOT the only option.  Red, pink and blue noise are also options that Ambruster offers in the Sound Pillow.  Ambruster spoke about non-emotional music and how it effects the brain and sleep.  You can hear a sample of the tracks at www.soundpillow.com. Armbruster touched on how Tittitus effects more people than we think, especially veterans.  He spoke about how beneficial his product was to one veteran who did not sleep through the night for years.  There is even the the American Tittitus Association.    Armbruster added that his product is even beneficial to children on the spectrum, anyone with anxiety, and more. Lastly, Ambruster is offering free shipping and a discount to anyone at:  WWW.SOUNDPILLOW.COM and use code LOVED at checkout. We hope you enjoy our podcast!  

At SLEEP 2022 Conference in Charlotte, NC, Ruth Marion with The Sleep Forum, spoke with Laurent Martinot, CEO at Sun Rise to find out exactly what this tiny device on your chin will actually do. Martinot explained that Sun Rise will "detect and diagnose sleep apnea by measuring the movements caused by the contraction of the respiratory muscles."  This new technology is easy to use at home, non-invasive, disposable and cost effect.  However, most importantly, this device proves to be the highest level of accuracy. Martinot talks about the history and background of the company and how far it has come.  It is available throughout Europe and, soon to be available  in the United States as well. Please enjoy the podcast and visit https://www.hellosunrise.com for more information about this innovative new product.

At SLEEP 2022 in Charlotte, NC, Ruth Marion with The Sleep Forum sat down with Jordan Grace Miller, Marketing Director at Inspire, to learn more. Miller begins by telling our listeners what Inspire is.  "It's a small device, the size of a pacemaker, that is surgically implanted, in a same day procedure, to help those who are CPAP intolerant and have moderate to severe sleep apnea keep their airways open so they can sleep better."  She continues to explain the indications and also the procedure when implanting the device. As for success rate, Miller said "9 out of 10 patients love it and would do it again."  If you are interested in finding out more about Inspire and see if it is right for you, go to www.inspiresleep.com where you can find a provider that will help you navigate the procedure from start to finish. One of the best pieces of information that Miller gave Marion was the future of Inspire.  Inspire is looking to offer a bluetooth remote check in feature added so patients can download their data realtime to their physicians for a more patient-centric experience.  Plus, it as telemedicine is becoming more popular, this feature will fit right in. Lastly, Miller tells our listeners, "If you are interested in more information, please go to https://www.inspiresleep.com/testimonials/ to hear real people talking about their experience with Inspire and how it saved their lives.  This is my favorite page." There is also a section on the top of https://www.inspiresleep.com for patients or healthcare providers.  We hope you enjoy the podcast.

I am excited to welcome back Ed Harrold, breathing expert, for another podcast with The Sleep Forum. Today Ed and I will be talking Ed how nasal breathing can be used to help alleviate new fears and anxieties navigating the new normal. There are simple tools at our fingertips that can help us: • Reduce anxiety and elicit healthy thoughts • Improve digestive and immune function • Strengthen the vagus nerve which inhibits the “cytokine storm” associated with Covid-19 virus • Use our built-in ventilation system supporting the nostrils in filtering out over 20 billion viruses and bacteria daily For more information or to speak with Ed Harrold directly, please go to www.edharold.com.

"If you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep for three out of seven nights each week for a period of three months, you are probably suffering from insomnia." says Dr. Russell Rosenberg, Chief Science Officer and CEO at NeuroTrials Research in Atlanta, GA. In this podcast, Rosenberg explains to the listeners that insomnia is more prevalent now than ever. "Covid-19 has definitely caused a spike in sleep disturbances in this country," says Rosenberg. He urges listeners to speak with (virtually if necessary) their primary care physician and discuss their sleep concerns. There are medications that can help. Marion asks Rosenberg to talk the pros and cons of a new medication that was just approved for use in the USA called Dayvigo or Lemborexant by Eisai. Rosenberg explains that "Dayvigo, a schedule IV controlled substance, is a dual orexin reception antagonist that works differently than other sleep medications because it blocks the orexin signals in the brain that are believed to play a role in wakefulness." He encourages healthcare providers to look at Dayvigo as an option for their patients. Rosenberg reminds listeners that there is the "potential for next day somnolence" and that driving ability was impaired in some subjects taking 10 mg dose. Rosenberg concludes the podcast with two comments: "Anyone with narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that results in daytime sleepiness, would be adversely affected by Dayvigo." If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, speak with your primary physician and seek a sleep doctor. Second, "do not mix Dayvigo with alcohol as it could be dangerous and potentially life threatening." For more information, visit https://www.dayvigohcp.com/

Ed Harrold, Author, Speaker, Leader, Coach By Ruth Marion, Editor, The Sleep Forum In this podcast, Ed Harrold, Health and Performance Coach, discusses the role of proper breathing for optimal health, well being and sleep. Ed Harrold is author, motivational speaker, inspirational leader, coach and educator. Marion, Editor of the Sleep Forum says "he is one of the most fascinating people I have ever podcasted with." Harrold tells us how he has always had a passion to "be great" in whatever he set out to do and decided his purpose was to share that with others. He became a "breathing expert" and started his company GO BE GREAT that now supports healthcare, athletes and corporations. Harrold tells the listeners that he provides CE training to healthcare professionals on "the importance of mindful movement of the body to reduce stress and anxiety and produce peak performance." He works with corporations to keep employees "happy, healthy, loving joyful, creative, intuitive and working at performance in the mind while keeping the blood pressure down." Harrold also trains athletic teams and individuals so they can perform at peak levels and win medals but "it all revolves around controlling the breath." Harrold tells the listeners more about breathing and how it has a "dual switch". Breathing can occur naturally and without thought, of course. However, if you want to consciously focus on your breathing you can. And by controlling the length, depth and pace of your breathing you can tell your brain what is it you want to accomplish. By breathing thoughtfully, we access the mind so we can focus on what we want to occur at that moment in life. Harrold stresses the importance for humans "to stop the habitual shallow mouth breathing and hyperventilation we see in our culture. It robs our body of energy and leaves us weak." Harrold reminds us that we are all born nasal breathers and were given these nostrils for a reason. Nostrils are built in ventilators and that help prevent airborne pollutants, pollen, and viruses from entering the temple of the body. Breathing through the nose does more than filter particulars we don't want in our bodies. It also helps us work the largest muscle in the body - the diaphragm - which also help us keep our spine strong and erect. Harrold recommends starting the morning off with a few minutes of just nasal breathing. Remember the exhale should be longer than the inhale. Starting the morning out with controlled breathing and gratitude is so important as we plan to move through another amazing day. When it comes time to sleep, sit on the edge of the bed and inhale and hold for two counts and slowly begin to bring a parasympathetic response into the body. Use your mind to set in motion what you want to occur. We hope you enjoy the podcast. To get a copy of his book or for more information about Ed, please click here. Stay tuned for the next podcast The Sleep Forum will be doing with Ed Harrold.

To celebrate World Sleep Day, The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce a podcast series about different aspects of sleep. In this podcast, Ruth Marion, Editor of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker, Dr. Mark Aloia, O'Bryan explains to our listeners that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. Our leadership is volunteers looking to promote sleep worldwide. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” O'Bryan reminds our listeners that "World Sleep Day is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life." When asked how we can change our behavior so we can optimize our sleep time, Aloia responds "it comes down to importance and confidence. Importance only does not always do it." He compares sleep to diet and exercise. Although we know it is good for us, that is not always enough to make us do it. One of the challenges that Aloia talks about is how new the field of sleep is and how different it is from other human behaviors. For example with exercise and diet, we know the changes we need to make and we know that the results will be delayed. When it comes to sleep, we expect immediate results and we make assumptions. If we did something the night before and slept well, we assume it will work again. In the Philips survey results, which can be found at www.philips.com/worldsleepday, it talks about identifying factors that contribute to sleep problems. Of the 13,000 people surveyed, stress was a big contributor. Other factors leading to sleep problems was work hours and constant connectivity. Some people make their sleep even worse by trying to deal with the stress by using alcohol or electronics. Aloia talks about the products and services provided by Philips and how the new approach to sleep is consumer based. Aloia reminds listeners that Philips sold the first CPAP over 40 years ago and continues to create products to assist with solving sleep problems. "At Philips we have created an ecosystem that can deal with 80% of the problems people have with sleep but they cannot expect it to be immediate," Aloia says. First, we need to help people identify what their problem is. Many people monitor their sleep but don't fully understand what their problems are. Philips supports many clinically validated sleep solutions that they offer to the general consumer. At the National Jewish Foundation, Aloia conducts clinical research relative to sleep apnea and cpap use. Health psychology education does not work alone. You need to determine motivators and remind people of those motivators throughout the process. Aloia says, "If you are in the business of healthcare you are in the business of behavior change. We can develop the best treatments in the world but if they are not used they are not effective." Aloia talks about the five pillars that help create behavior change as "personal and meaningful, sense of urgency, need to build confidence with reachable goals, build a social support system and support someone's ability to make their own choice and take ownership." Three suggestions that Aloia has for better sleep hygiene for adults include: 1. Encourage people not to make decisions on how you slept based on one night. To really make a change, give it four to seven nights. 2. Check in with ourselves and give up caffeine. 3. Be aware of alcohol. It will fragment your sleep.

To celebrate World Sleep Day, The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce a podcast series about different aspects of sleep. In this podcast, Doug Green, Publisher of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker, Dr. Charles Morin, professor of psychology and Director of the Sleep Research Center at Laval University in Quebec City. O'Bryan explains to our listeners that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. Our leadership is volunteers looking to promote sleep worldwide. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” "Insomnia is the most prevalent of all sleep disorders with chronic insomnia affecting 10 percent of the adult population, says Morin. Insomnia occurs when a person has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. However, comments Morin, "it is a 24 hour problem that impairs the persons daytime functioning and productivity. When it occurs a minimum of more than 3 nights a week and occurs for three months or more it is categorized as insomnia disorder." When asked about the short and long term consequences of chronic insomnia, Morin exclaimed, "many people trivialize insomnia but studies have show that chronic insomnia will affect both your mental and physical health." Morin spoke about an increase in disability or absence from work, depression, hypertension, cardiac disease and the list goes on. The first line of treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavior therpay (cbt). CBT specific to insomnia is a psychotherapy focused on sleep and problem solving. Morin speaks about how cbt works by changing poor sleep schedules and habits, targeting worries or beliefs and, many times, decreasing the amount of time people spend in bed. Other behavior changes Morin recommends is going to bed when you are sleepy and not earlier, getting up the same hour every morning and using the bedroom to sleep only. Morin briefly mentions that many different classes of medication and new agents are available by prescription and over the counter to treat insomnia, usually on a short term basis. The use of sleep medication every night for a prolonged period of time might create a tolerance and/or dependency. For chronic insomnia, cbt treatment is still the best choice. Although it will take longer to work, the long term benefits last long after therapy ends. O'Bryan mentions that World Sleep Day created a list called 10 Commandments of Sleep Hygiene for Adults and Morin added the following additional recommendations. "People need to also keep realistic sleep expectations - even the best sleepers in the world might not sleep every night. You should avoid stimulants and alcohol which will fragment your sleep. Lastly, it is not effective to work until the last minute and then go to sleep. You need to reserve a period to unwind before bedtime. Most important, you must apply and practice these strategies on a regular basis." Morin recommends that shift workers "go the extra mile to protect his/her sleep. Shift workers need to adapt their lifestyle and get home and to sleep before noon. They should plan for a short nap and have a sleep environment that is quiet and protected from outside noises. Also, for support, shift workers need to alert family and friends of their work situation." Morin ends the podcast by telling the listeners about the many studies he is working on to better help people with insomnia. He is looking at a combination of medications and CBT as a future treatment. For more information on clinical trials, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce a podcast series about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Doug Green, Publisher of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Durmer, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Fusion Health which is now Nox Health. O'Bryan explains to our listeners that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. Our leadership is volunteers looking to promote sleep worldwide. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” Durmer tells the listeners that Fusion Health is a company that was co-founded with a colleague from Iceland. He started his career by comparing the research they were doing in Iceland in sleep and restless leg syndrome (rls) to the United States and was especially interested in the devices they were using to diagnose it. He soon realized that the devices they were using in the labs could be used with patients at home. Fusion Health merged with Nox Medical and became Nox Health. They have spent the last decade "providing population sleep health programming to large companies, sports teams and organizations to identify sleep disorders and associated risk factors." Once identified, Nox Health provides telebased sleep medicine, treatment and follow up. This (sleep health) is a growing trend across big companies, says Durmer. Durmer describes how a power company down south used the Nox Health platform to help identify fatigue and sleep related problems among their employees and alert employees about the importance of sleep. "Not only does our platform identify and access risk factors for RLS, insomnia or apnea but also provides programs for mindfulness and meditation as a solution for some of those patients," says Durmer. The goal is to identify those with a sleep disorder or risk for a sleep disorder and allow them to receive medical care. Employers that invest in sleep health for their employees are realizing the return on investment with a decrease in accidents, heart disease and mental health. "The technologies we are using with these companies are the same as the hardware I first saw in Iceland together with a work flow platform that quickly identifies people in their environments where they sleep and work," says Durmer. He shares that the technologies being used are portable and will quickly detect a sleep disorder or risk for sleep disorder. The next step would involve a prescription and follow up via telemedicine. Durmer says, "the mission is to solve a problem before it becomes a bigger problem." When asked what he thought of sleep trackers, Durmer had mixed opinions. On one hand, some people are now suffering from insomnia because of the sleep trackers. On the other hand, some people are thinking their sleep is fine (and it is not) because of a sleep tracker. The main concern is connecting our wearables into systems that provide medical care means a whole different level of security. The platform that is transmitting personal health data needs to be secure. Durmer did mention the Oura ring as a wearable that many athletic teams use as a way share and monitor their sleep, especially across time zones or when traveling. Durmer talks about his work with the RLS Foundation as a Board member and the Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals. He was the first president of the Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals and has brought together many people in the sleep field to work together and advocate for sleep disorders, awareness, solutions and funding. One of the studies that Durmer is involved with is "sleep apnea and the risk for primary or secondary stroke.

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Doug Green, Publisher of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society talk with guest speaker Dr. Russell Rosenberg, director and CEO of NeuroTrials Research and the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and Technology. O'Bryan begins the podcast by explaining that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. We use World Sleep Day, one of our biggest events, as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” O'Bryan reminds listeners that “World Sleep Day is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life.” When asked about his definition of quality sleep, Rosenberg replies that if "a person has had adequate sleep, they will wake up feeling refreshed and alert throughout the day. It is not normal to be sleepy during the day. In many cases, people just try to do too much in one day hoping there is something more than a 24 hour day." Of course, being sleepy during the day is not something that should be ignored. Rosenberg described the disorder, narcolepsy, as a neurological sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness. He describes narcolepsy type one, with cateplexy, where patients will feel a loss of muscle tone. Narcolepsy type one or two can be accompanied by symptoms including sleep paralysis, hallucinations and vivid dreams. Narcolepsy frequently emerges in second decade of life, in the teen years. Rosenberg recommends that if your teen is experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, contact a local sleep clinic or sleep specialist or start with your primary care physician. Rosenberg tells the listeners that Neurotrials "conducts research in a variety of areas that have to do with the brain." The purpose of the research is to develop new medicines and devices that can better help people with sleep disorders to live a normal life. Rosenberg was excited when sharing how new narcolepsy drugs are now being developed that target the neuron orexin, also known as hypocretin, that help a person function better during the day. He mentions the recently approved wake promoting drugs for narcolepsy, Sunosi and Wakix, and how he believes there will be others available for narcolepsy in the next five years. Rosenberg continued to talk about Lemborexant or Dayvigo, an orexin antagonist, one of the most recent FDA approved drugs for insomnia. Rosenberg reminds the listeners that clinical trials are totally voluntary and, in some cases, you might be compensated. He said for some it is a very rewarding experience and a chance to find out more about your disease. If you are interested in looking into a clinical trial, please go to www.clinicaltrials.gov. Rosenberg ends the conversation by commenting how he felt technology used to measure sleep outside the laboratory is the next forefront of sleep health and sleep medicine. "We already have devices that detect motion, heart rate, breathing and brain wave activity. It would be great to study patients in their home environment over the course a few weeks rather than in a laboratory."

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Ruth Marion, Editor of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker, Dr. Judith Owens, Director of Sleep Medicine, Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston. O'Bryan explains to our listeners that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. Our leadership is volunteers looking to promote sleep worldwide. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” When asked by O'Bryan to discuss the most prevalent sleep disorders in children, Owens replied that sleep disorders in children "encompass a variety of potential problems such as breathing, insomnia, parasomnias, and insufficient sleep." She commented that sometimes an individual or whole family unit needs to change certain behaviors so that it can positively impact sleep. The most important thing is to make sure that kids get the recommended amount of sleep. Owens mentioned that the groups like the World Sleep Society and events like World Sleep Day are fantastic because it raises awareness for sleep health and sleep disorders for caregivers and health care providers as well. When asked why she felt sleep disorders in children has risen, she replies "anxiety levels in children and adolescents have increased for lots of reasons. Anxiety is a driver for insomnia – difficulty falling asleep or falling back to sleep.  The use of electronic devices we know quite clearly not only is stimulating to the brain but there is a biological piece – the blue light coming from the screen that inhibits the production of melatonin.  Owens talked about treatment and protocols for insomnia in adolescents. When teenagers go into puberty they also have a shift in their natural falling asleep and wake time. Most adolescents it is hard for them to fall asleep before 11 pm at night but their natural wake time also shifts.  One of the issues that comes into play is early school start time. Environmental factors like social networking, increasing homework, extra curricular activities and being over-scheduled makes sleep fall to the bottom of their priority list. Adolescents today are more sleep deprived than any other group we have seen in history and their consequences could be long term. Some recommendations by Owens included rearranging priorities so adolescents can get the sleep they need, taking a short strategic nap and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule on school days and non school days. Owens continued by talking about research that has proved the short term and long term consequences of sleep deprivation in adolescents. "We know there is a decline in executive functions which include decision making, planning, motivation, regulating emotions and problem solving.  Not getting enough sleep negatively impacts these executive functions." This is one of the reasons why car accidents are the number one cause of death in adolescents. Lack of impulse control leads to risky behaviors such as driving after drinking or while tired. Sleep deprived adolescents suffer from mood changes and depression which is also why suicide is the third highest cause of death among adolescents. In addition, poor academic function and obesity can be short term effects of sleep deprivation. Long term consequences will be cardiac disease, cognitive impairment, high blood pressure and other life threatening conditions. Owens reminds us to stay empowered and to bring up concerns about sleep at all ages to your health care providers. Health care providers are becoming more informed and reminded to ask these ...

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Ruth Marion, Executive Editor of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker Ricky Kalmon, world renowned hypnotist and mindfulness expert. O'Bryan begins the podcast by explaining that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. We use World Sleep Day, one of our biggest events, as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” O'Bryan reminds listeners that "World Sleep Day is designed to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life." When Marion introduced Kalmon and asked him to tell the listeners what he does, his reply was "I help people change the way they think so they can change what happens around them. How cool is that?" Kalmon is a professional hypnotist who says that all hypnosis is self hypnosis. Kalmon explains that the only thing holding anyone back from doing something is a thought or a doubt. If we believe something is true, chances are that is what the outcome will be. When we say things like, I can't sleep, I can't lose weight, and the like they become very powerful in our subconscious. "Our thoughts can be our best friend or our worst enemy," says Kalmon. People need to take a few minutes every day to reduce stress, focus and leverage their mindset. When we start to give ourselves more time to calm and relax during the day, we can bring that same calm to bed with us when we go to lay down and sleep. We learn how to leave the thoughts behind and fall asleep naturally. Kalmon says, "Give yourself permission to feel great. Self talk is very powerful stuff. Negativity and doubt can hold us back from having a great night's sleep." Kalmon agreed with all Ten Tips For Better Sleep provided by the World Sleep Society and added, "just breathe." The simplest things in life are most powerful. Kalmon also recommends taking four or five minutes out of your day and just be calm and breathe. He recommends no books or music. "You will come to see how this exercise brings on gratitude and happiness," Kalmon says.  O'Bryan comments about insomnia and how the first line of treatment is cognitive behavior therapy. Kalmon adds that cognitive behavior therapy teaches you how to change a behavior that could be contributing to your insomnia and "give yourself permission to fall asleep". Kalmon ends the podcast with one more recommendation to our listeners: "We are all a student of life. Everyday we should learn something or educate ourselves with something new. Just say to yourself, today I am going to be a better version of myself." Kalmon puts out a newsletter with tips to help you become more mindful and learn something new - go to www.rickykalmon.com to sign up today.

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Ruth Marion, Editor of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker, Dr. Richard Allen, Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University. O'Bryan explains to our listeners that “world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. Our leadership is volunteers looking to promote sleep worldwide. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep.” O'Bryan tells the listeners about Dr. Richard Allen and the extensive research he has done about restless leg syndrome (RLS). He has written over 300 peer reviewed articles on the topic of RLS. He is an undergraduate at MIT and graduate studies in psychology at Cambridge University in England. When asked what is a sleep disorder and how do you know if you have a sleep disorder, Allen replied, "you don't sleep through the night, you are doing strange things in the night or you wake up feeling tired." Allen talks about the long term effects of sleep deprivation or lack of restorative sleep. For example, he has had many patients that came to him and claimed to sleep eight hours a night but would get drowsy driving home after work and they would need to pull over. Allen reminds listeners that a lack of restorative sleep contributes to dementia and cardiovascular disease, among other illnesses. Allen describes RLS as an old disorder dating back to the 1800's. The disease used to be minimized and people were told to control themselves or just calm down and stop it. There are different controls of movement that happen when you get ready to sleep or rest. Restless leg begins when the person is getting ready to sleep or rest and gets worse as the person lays down and attempts to sleep. Allen talked about the treatment then and the treatment now. Early on in treatment, RLS patients would get referred to a psychiatrist. Several decades ago, you might have been given an opioid and told to go to a therapist and learn to relax. Current medications include dopamine and iron replacement. Current research is showing that a iron deficiency in the brain could cause RLS. Allen warns people not to take iron without a doctor monitoring it as too much iron could have worse consequences. As researchers today, we are trying to identify any early biomarkers to determine what the risks are so people can avoid the things that will lead to RLS later in life. One of the biggest developments we are working on, Allen tells us, is a better method to deliver iron to the brain. We believe we will have that approved in 10 years or less. We are also looking at replacing oral iron which is unpleasant and causes gastritis with another iron supplement. Lastly, we are looking at genetics to see if there is any link. Allen ends the podcast by stressing that with healthy restorative sleep we can improve cardiovascular health, avoid dementia and live a longer and more productive life as we enter our golden years. O'Bryan reminds us to check out the list of ten commandments of sleep hygiene on World Sleep Society website.

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this podcast, Doug Green, Publisher of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with guest speaker Dr. Lourdes DelRosso, Sleep Physician at Seattle Children's Hospital and Associate Professor in the department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. O'Bryan begins the podcast by explaining that "world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. We use World Sleep Day, one of our biggest events, as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep." When asked by O'Bryan to explain the importance of good night's sleep to our listeners, DelRosso immediately commented, "the increasing amount of research proves that we (adults and children) need quality sleep to consolidate memories, regulate the cardiovascular system, maintain even blood pressure and more. The podcast continued with discussion about recommendations DelRosso might have for parents with regard to children and sleep. First, DelRosso recommends that everyone check out the World Sleep Society list of healthy sleep habits for children. Second, consistency is key and the most important element. Inconsistency with your child's bedtime is like "putting your children in a different time zone every day." Create quiet time or wind down so the brain knows to start preparing for sleep. DelRosso spoke of research she and an international task force is currently working to prove that "restless sleep" is an actual sleep disorder. Looking back as far as 1981, this topic was already being discussed. Restless sleep used to be viewed as a depression or anxiety disorder. Now, it is being recognized as another possible sleep disorder as it does not fall into the same category that other sleep disorders do. When asked by O'Bryon to describe quality sleep, DelRosso says, "quality sleep is a subjective term which is what makes it hard for us researchers.  We have come to recognize that sleep disorders will disturb sleep.  But we must also remember other variables that can disturb our sleep like pain, eczema or asthma." DelRosso talked about how she sees a shift in awareness for quality sleep and sleep disorders. More parents are asking questions about sleep than ever before. She reminds parents not to wait if you think your child has a sleep disorder. Discuss the situation with your primary doctor and keep a sleep log. Pay attention to sleep and wake times, breathing problems, snoring, or napping. DelRosso tells the listeners about her own experiences with sleep deprivation throughout her life. "This has given me more awareness of what others are going through. says DelRosso. As sleep doctors, we try to see how others feel." DelRosso ends the podcast by reminding the listeners of the World Sleep Day 2020 slogan - Better sleep, better life, better planet. She says "it is great how different communities around the world are putting an emphasis on the sleep health of their citizens to make the world better for all of us."

The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society have come together to produce TEN podcasts about sleep as we countdown to World Sleep Day on March 13, 2010. In this kickoff podcast, Ruth Marion, Editor of The Sleep Forum and Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of The Sleep Society speak with Nancy Rothstein, The Sleep Ambassador® and Director of Sleep Health at Resonea. O'Bryan explains to our listeners that "world sleep society is a non-profit, membership based organization representing sleep researchers and clinicians around the world focusing on awareness and education. We use World Sleep Day as opportunity for our membership reach out to the public and highlight the importance of sleep." Rothstein congratulates The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society for doing a stellar job at raising awareness about the importance of sleep and bringing sleep education to the masses. Rothstein commented how she loved the World Sleep Day tagline - designated to raise awareness of sleep as a human privilege that is often compromised by the habits of modern life" and adds, "our biology hasn't changed, our behaviors have." When asked what motivated Rothstein to become so passionate about sleep, she replied "a snoring ex-spouse deserves all the credit." She was in the corporate world when she realized that sleep is actually a risk management issue. Researchers now know that how you sleep at home or on the road greatly impacts how you function at work, not to mention health care costs. "Companies are finally waking up to the importance of sleep and realizing the huge return on investment they will receive, says Rothstein. A well rested employee is an asset and a sleep deprived employee is a liability." You can read more about this topic in her paper The ROI of A Good Night's Sleep - Making a business case for bedtime. The good news is that good sleep is possible. It comes down to behavior modification and building new habits. It doesn't matter what sleep tracker you use, it matters what you do with that information. Also, Rothstein says, "it all comes down to how you feel in the morning. The best sleep technology is inside you." O'Bryan emphasizes that "getting 7 - 8 hours of sleep a night is one of the best thing you can do for your health. Sleep is as important as exercise and nutrition." O'Bryan explains that duration, depth and continuality are the three measures of quality sleep, according to World Sleep Society. Rothstein touched on the importance of consistency. Our body clock loves consistency. When we go against our natural body clocks, we are in trouble. Jet lag, according to Rothstein, "puts a glitch in your circadian rhythm which throws us off balance." Rothstein reminds us that "corporations can outsource sleep education and training for employees, but no one can sleep for you but you." Also, Rothstein adds, "no matter how great your sleep hygiene is, you might still not be getting proper sleep because of a sleep disorder. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to do something about that and seek out a sleep doctor." We ended the podcast with a discussion on the need for more corporations to come up with policies and procedures as they relate to sleep as part of their wellness offerings to employees. O'Bryan reminds our listeners to click here to view top ten tips for adults and children to get good sleep hygiene as recommended by the experts.

"We are sabotaging ourselves (and our sleep) with our mattresses and the thermostats we set in our house, says Tara Youngblood, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Chili Technologies. “Our human circadian rhythm follows the outside weather pattern.  If you are in an indoor, temperature controlled environment with no natural temperature fluctuations, there's nothing to signal the body that it's time to go to sleep." Youngblood talks about how most mattresses are made of foam or gel, causing body heat to reflect back as the night goes on.  "So they really heat us up when we really want to be coolest”. Youngblood describes three different zones of your sleep as it relates to body temperature and fluctuations.   The first zone is when you first get into bed.  This is personal and all about what feels comfortable and what triggers you to fall asleep.  This is when you flip on your "sleep switch" however it works for you.  The second zone is deep sleep which we get most of during the first half of the night, and when our body temperature should be cooling down.  When we sleep in a colder environment, the amount of deep sleep we get increases.  Deep sleep allows your body to recover and makes you feel rested in the morning.  Deep sleep is the most restorative form of sleep and boosts your immune system. The last zone is the second half of the night or the early morning.  At this time, your sleep cycles tend to be heavier on REM sleep and our body temperature rises. As your body warms up, you flip off the "sleep switch" and wake up feeling refreshed and rested. Youngblood describes the ChiliPad as "a mattress topper that circulates temperature controlled water (55-110 degrees) allowing you to optimize your sleep environment.  The Ooler is the same with a few upgrades.  It allows you to set a schedule that changes the temperature throughout the night.  It also has a quieter fan (if you want) and it is app-controlled." Youngblood is also author of a new book called Reprogram Your Sleep.  She explains in her book how each individual is unique and you need to find the "recipe" for good sleep that works for you. The message that Youngblood wants you to know is that "poor sleep is fixable".  Her book will teach you how to fix a dysfunctional circadian rhythm.  You will learn to identify what your personal circadian rhythm is and how to use that to get more out of your day and night.  Simple action steps like adjusting when you eat, exercise or relax can help you recover your sleep and teach you how to reset your circadian rhythm. Youngblood ends our podcast with this:  "Good sleep is built with consistent habits and patterns. Discover your hidden potential and true self, because even just one night of great sleep can change your day." For more information, please visit:  www.chilitechnologies.com 

Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director, World Sleep Society In this podcast, Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of World Sleep Society tells us about the workings of the association and the brain power behind it. O'Bryan also talks about their upcoming conference in Brazil and World Sleep Day. "World Sleep Society is a non profit, member based association representing clinicians, nurses, technicians healthcare focus in sleep medicine and sleep research, says O'Bryan. Our Board comes from around the world with a mission to advance sleep health worldwide, especially in regions where sleep medicine is less developed." O'Bryan mentions the following officers on the Board include, President: Birgit Högl (Austria), President-Elect: Phyllis C. Zee (US), Secretary: Fang Han (China), Treasurer: Maree Barnes (Australia), Past President: Charles Morin (Canada) To support the mission of World Sleep Society, every other year there is an educational conference held in a different location in the world. The next World Sleep Society conference is on September 10 - 15, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 4,000 healthcare providers will attend the conference attend educational sessions, poster sessions, and visit exhibitors from pharmaceutical companies to homeopathic solutions to sleep. O'Bryan shared that other educational opportunities are available throughout the year including regional sleep focused conferences and educational videos from the last conference in Vancouver. O'Bryan and others at World Sleep Society were instrumental in creating World Sleep Day in 2007. It is a global awareness act that celebrates sleep and aims to help those with serious sleep problems. Celebrated on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year, this holiday has an annual 155 events held across the world and is participated by over 70 countries. "It is a celebration of sleep and a call to action, " says O'Bryan. "Some people come to work in pajamas while others challenge you to stay in bed for 24 hours. World Sleep Day is chaired by Liborio Parrino, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Parma University, Italy; with support from World Sleep Society's staff and others." "To celebrate World Sleep Day on March 13, 2020, The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society will be podcasting every week with renowned doctors about sleep conditions and also innovative entrepreneurs that have created non pharmaceutical sleep solutions, "said Marion of The Sleep Forum. If you or your organization would like to participate in World Sleep Day, please go to www.worldsleepday.org to apply to be a delegate or for more information. Or visit www.worldsleepsociety.org.

"After giving birth to my first daughter, Grace, all the advise and books I was reading was not resonating with me and the other babies I was seeing, says Lauren Heffernan, Certified Holistic Maternity, Child Sleep Consultant, Certified Sleep Educator and Founder of IslaGrace.  I started questioning what I was reading in books, written in the 1980's.  Besides, things have changed and we know so much more now than we did then." In this podcast Heffernan talks about how new parents try to maintain some control over their new situation.  They naturally choose the two behaviors that cannot be controlled which is sleeping and eating.  However, books, numbers, pediatricians and even lactation consultants tell them otherwise.  They try to fit their baby to fit into a "box" by creating a sleeping and feeding schedule that does not work.  This creates an atmosphere of anxiety and stress which is relayed to the baby and makes the situation that much harder. Each baby, like each human being, is unique.  That uniqueness includes eating and sleeping.  Heffernan believes that babies and parents would have a much easier time if parents would "slow down and tune in" to their babies.  Heffernan developed an instinctual and more natural approach to sleeping called the Baby Led Sleep Approach.  This approach looks beyond the baby to their surroundings, situation and family dynamic. There are many reasons why a baby might not be sleeping.  Did they meet a new milestone?  Was there too much stimulation in their day?  Maybe they have not seen you in a while and need that connection and touch? Heffernan says, "stop reading the books and start tuning in to your baby."  She provides information and support to women at different stages of motherhood, and walks each one through the personal journey to become a more confident mother. Heffernan is very active on social media or for more information go to www.islagrace.ca

In this podcast, Megan Soffer, Brand, Digital and Content Marketing Manager of TrueDark, tells the listeners how "TrueDark is a wellness and performance brand leveraging healthier light for healthier living." Soffer talks about the array of products TrueDark offers to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle, also known as your circadian rhythm.  "Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. They respond primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment." In today's high tech, always on the go environment, we are constantly exposed to artificial light, also known as junk light, at work or blue light on our devices which confuses our bodies.  This especially happens when we get into bed at night with our electronic devices that are actually keeping us up. Soffer talks about the "wired and tired" feeling you get when you are laying in bed ready to sleep and, yet staring at screen emitting blue light that is actually keeping you awake.  The blue light and led light that comes from our devices and environments, blocks our bodies from creating the melatonin it needs to sleep.  This is one of the main reasons people suffer from insomnia. Simply put, TrueDark glasses work by blocking out the artificial light in order to regulate the sleep-wake cycle so we can sleep better at night.  But what makes TrueDark different than the other light blocking glasses on the market? "TrueDark glassses go even further than the other blue light blocking glasses by offering a 24 hour solution", Soffer explains.  TrueDark Daywalkers are a yellow tinted lens that blocks overexposure to led and florescent light, especially if you work in this environment all day long like a school or hospital.  TrueDark Twilight glasses are a red tinted lens that blocks 100% of blue light plus green and violet light too, which many of the other glasses do not.   Soffer tells the listeners that "the red lens is better and more effective for falling and staying asleep." Soffer talks how TrueDark glasses can be "the perfect solution for elite professional athletes or anyone that needs to travel across time zones yet arrive and perform at peak levels."  Soffer recommends wearing TrueDark throughout the airport, where it is flooded with blue and led light, about 90 minutes before your flight.  Even if you don't have a long flight, you can benefit by sleeping faster and better so when you arrive you can recover quickly and begin doing what you need to do. For more information about TrueDark and please go to www.truedark.com

CBD oil is especially great for those with anxiety and insomnia “We were so excited in 2015 when we started up Tree of Life Seeds because we saw how cannabis can change someone's life and we wanted to be a part of that,” says Jason Martin, CEO and Founder of Tree of Life Seeds. “My partner Brian (who is in the farming business) and I decided many years ago to go into the cannabis business as we saw folks who were given their lives back by the cannabis plant.  Martin tells us how he experienced, first hand, the “miracle of the cannabis plant when Brian's son suffered brain seizures and the only thing that worked was cannabis.  He is now living a fully functional life, married, kids and a job.  He was given his life back.” In this podcast, Martin talks about what makes Tree of Life Seeds different than other CBD companies.  He explains how they are involved in “everything that goes into the product…from seeds to farming to extraction and refining and formulation.” According to Martin, Tree of Life seeds employs doctors that has studied the science behind the product and created the  highest grade most pure and organic broad spectrum CBD oil out there.  “There is nothing in them that we would not consider putting into our own bodies,” says Martin.  He points out that the THC molecule is removed completely from their product, which is not the case with some other CBD oils. “CBD oil is especially great for those with anxiety and insomnia." Martin tells the listeners.  "We created REST CBD SOFT GELS which is the same great formula in our other CBD products with melotonin and chamomile added.” Martin adds, "This is one of our best selling products because patients are seeing results and won't wake up in a drug haze or experience the other side affects that come with other over the counter sleep aids”. We learn that key uses could be for travel or for those who currently need or use a sleep aid. Martin discusses how his product might be a safe solution or alternative for many listeners. For more information, please visit www.treeoflifeseeds.com

What are some of things we can do to get better sleep as we head into 2020?  How do we make sleep a priority? “It all started with a snoring spouse,” says Nancy Rothstein, of the  The Sleep Ambassador. Rothstein, who's training, and previously published works had been on finance, began a journey to re-discover one of humanity's most essential shared needs: sleep. In this podcast, we learn how Rothstein started to see sleep deprivation as something much larger than an inconvenient lost night of sleep. “No one can sleep for you, but you,” says Rothstein, who stresses that not only can sleep not be outsourced, but that sleep is not necessarily improved by good intentions. According to Rothstein, we have developed habits, culture, economic processes, technologies and more, that collaborate to run against our natural need to sleep. Miracle inventions such as the lightbulb and the iPhone, can disrupt our biology in a devastating way. Speaking as a non-clinician, and as a former member of a hard charging 24/7 industry (finance), Rothstein discusses how the way we live, work, play, and even eat, might be at odds with our basic need to sleep. We explore this issue, its consequences in lost worker productivity and in loss of years in a lifetime to the individual. Rothstein than discusses some strategies to re-align sleep, change work and social cultures and offers resources towards achieving those changes. Visit The Sleep Ambassador® 

"I had really never given sleep much thought, aside from the fact that I really like it." explained Denise Gassner, PhD at the University of British Columbia and Founder of There's a Monster In My Closet. Gassner describes to the listeners how "sleep deprivation hit our family really hard" when her second child was born.  It was then that she realized how important sleep was to "my own health and well being, as well as to that of my children." Being an academic, Gassner began researching and googling sleep to try and gain "control over this behavior".  She was overwhelmed with the amount of conflicting advise she read about the topic of sleep for new parents.  She decided that much of the information she came across would tell you how to "fix" sleep but not why the sleep problems were there to begin with.  Gassner questioned, "if sleep is so important to our health (and particularly that of a new baby), then why are they so terrible at it?" Gassner decided to share the information she had gathered about baby sleep and create five sleep monsters - each one representing a sleep developmental stage that children go through in their first five years.  Each monster comes with a comprehensive e-book breaking down, explaining and simplifying your child's sleep.  Gassner also offers a six week baby course and private consultation upon request. For more information, please visit www.theresamonsterinmycloset.com

I was very sick with the flu several years ago and, as I laid in my bed sweating, light hurting my eyes and noise bothering my head, I developed the Deep Sleep Hoodie.

In this exclusive podcast with Anandi, The Sleep Guru, we hear about sleep retreats - a chance to relax and recharge but also learn new skills to improve sleep and wellness. Anandi starts by telling us how she found balance through yoga, breathing and Ayurveda.  "In fact, it changed my life." says Anandi. She continues telling the listeners how she went from a seasoned insomniac to someone who sleeps normally and feels amazing most of the time using the tools she is now teaching.  "I know personally what it's like to suffer from insomnia night after night, month after month, year after year. I looked 10 years older than I was and felt awful all the time." Lack of sleep ruins your creativity, affects your relationships and has serious effects on your health.  Plus, lack of sleep will affect the way you look and how fast you age.  Drugs are often the only thing being recommended by professionals for insomnia, but drugs have side effects internally and externally.   Using tools to calm the mind, physical cleansing techniques and nutrition, in the right order, you can overcome your insomnia and improve your vitality.  Health and good sleep is possible when you are in balance.  You don't need drugs. The only way to achieve balance is to learn how to make the right lifestyle choices and rituals that keep you healthy. Sleep retreats are becoming more popular as our lives become more stressful, complicated and wired.  Many corporations are now turning to sleep and wellness retreats for sales incentive trips, allowing employees to return to work refreshed and ready to work.   Anandi will even craft a retreat at the location of your choice and personalize it based on your circumstance. Anandi explains that one of the fundamental reasons she started running retreats was because she realized that people needed the space and time to let go of the stress they accumulate through sleep deprivation and over work.  It's very difficult to do it alone and it becomes too tempting to turn to drugs for respite from sleeplessness. The retreat is just the beginning.  Anandi will craft a day by day instructions on lifestyle, food, yoga and breath work and meditation.  After your retreat, there are many different options for your continued journey to better sleep.  You can work with Anandi in your home or on line. If you're struggling with sleep deprivation or exhaustion, make the time to get to a retreat. Some people say “I can't afford it”, or “I can't take the time”.  Think about what would happen if you don't do something?  Fast forward five years of pushing yourself to the limits and think about how that could manifest?  Taking time for yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.  Find out more about sleep retreats with Anandi here

The survey, "How America Sleeps and Wakes," sponsored by Eisai, Inc. explored the impact of insomnia or sleeping difficulties on individual performance, interpersonal relationships and social behaviors. In this exclusive podcast with Dr. Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, Chief of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, we discuss the surprising results from the survey and what individuals are looking for in an insomnia treatment or medication. "The survey uncovered that approximately 2/3 of the participants care about how they feel the next day.  They want to wake up refreshed and ready to start the day.  The survey reinforces the importance of sleeping well so we can wake well, says Zee. Another aspect of the survey examined people who live with someone with a sleep problem and how it affects them. "This survey is unique in that it not only examined those with insomnia but also those people living with people with insomnia or sleep problems," says Zee.  "The survey uncovered that more than 80% of the cohabitants agreed that when the person in their home does not sleep well it negatively impacts their next day as well." Zee ends the podcast by reminding us that more and more evidence is proving that sleep is pivotal for health just like nutrition and exercise.  People need to prioritize sleep and speak to their healthcare provider if they are suffering from sleep issues.  When speaking with your doctor remember to  discuss daytime functioning as well as nighttime issues. For more information, please visit www.dayafterinsomnia.com.

We've all heard the latest craze about CBD oils and find them everywhere from CVS to Bed, Bath and Beyond.  But what is it, what makes them different?  In this exclusive podcast with Nick DiFrancesco, VP of Purwell and the founder of PURSLEP, we talk about cannabinoids, one of the many ingredients in a proprietary formula that helps you fall asleep naturally and safely. "There are at least 113 different cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant", says DiFrancesco.  The full-spectrum, proprietary CBD formula made by Purwell contains "high concentration of CBD and other beneficial cannabinoids including CBC, CBG and CBN."  He explains that these cannabinoids are NOT psychoactive and will not get you high but work together to help you relax so you can fall asleep naturally." In addition, DiFrancesco tells the listener how "every batch of CBD oil is independently lab-tested for potency, pesticides, contaminants, and residual solvents." PurWell full spectrum hemp oil provides what is called the “Entourage Effect”, where each molecular compound amplifies the other in a synergistic manner.  This interdependent action of the various cannabinoids on the human endocannabinoid system provides optimal physical benefits. For more information, please visit www.purwell.com.

“The conclusion from this study, and other evidence, supported that WAKIX has significantly lower potential for abuse and drug ‘liking', and that's what lead to its approval by the FDA and becoming the first and only drug approved by the FDA for patients with narcolepsy that is not scheduled as a controlled substance by the DEA,” says said Harmony's Chief Medical Officer, Jeffrey Dayno, M.D. In this podcast, recorded live at this week's Vancouver World Sleep Congress, Dayno discusses WAKIX and the results from a double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled, four-sequence, four-way crossover study that evaluated the abuse potential of pitolisant compared with the stimulant phentermine HCl (C-IV) and placebo in non-dependent, recreational stimulant users. WAKIX was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adult patients with narcolepsy. “It is not a stimulant,” says Dayno. Dayno outlines how stimulants work and how WAKIX is a first-in-class medication with a novel mechanism of action. Dayno discusses how that mechanism works and what patients might expect in using the new drug. Learn more at https://www.harmonybiosciences.com/  

“Cooling is a very good thing for the brain,” says Dr. Eric Nofzinger. In this podcast we learn about Ebb Insomnia Therapy, a drug-free solution that reduces brain activity by precision cooling of the forehead. Nofzinger takes us through his process of research and discovery. Having witnessed the devastation insomnia can visit on patients and unhappy with the limited pharmacological options Nofzinger drew on his medical training where he recalled that cooling of the brain could be a good thing. This lead to the development of Ebb Insomnia Therapy. Nofzinger's team a device that cools the frontal cortex of the brain for the purposes of countering insomnia. Nofzinger walks us through the products features, how it works and the science behind the process. The way Nofzinger puts it, Ebb gives the brain a gentle “push” only lowering a specific part of the brain's temperature a half a degree centigrade. The device in many ways works to help the brain do what it might otherwise do on its own in the absence of insomnia. Considerations were made for real world, non-clinical setting use as well. Industrial design went to making the product have the look and feel of a typical bedside clock radio, but in this case the dial offers temperature control. Now available with FDA clearance, this podcast offers a view into an alternative medication for insomnia sufferers.  

Find out how the Deep Sleep Hoodie is designed to help you sleep better at home or on the road. In this podcast, Glenn Paradise, Founder, Inventor and former insomniac at Deep Sleepwear, tells us how his product, the Deep Sleep Hoodie, can "change the way the world sleeps" and we hear directly from him the science behind it. Paradise describes the hoodie to the listener and explains how and why it works to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.  Fluctuation in body temperature is one of the biggest disrupts to a good night's sleep.  The Deep Sleep Hoodie uses a wicking material that helps regulate body temperature and a design with built in eye masks. Paradise shares with us the inspiration for inventing the Deep Sleep Hoodie and the reason for his passion behind the product.  He also tells the listeners the many advantages to having the Deep Sleep Hoodie and uses for it.  Paradise talks about how his product is ideal for the traveler and especially those in hospitality that spend countless hours on a plane. To find out more, please listen to our podcast.  And, to order your Deep Sleep Hoodie, please go to https://depslepwear.com/

Understanding Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia: Insights and Perspectives at Education Day at Sleep Expo 2019. In this podcast, Claire Crisp, Executive Director at Wake Up Narcolepsy, tells us how "in Collaboration with the Hypersomnia Foundation and World Sleep, Wake Up Narcolepsy is hosting an Education Day at Sleep Expo 2019 for people with narcolepsy and/or idiopathic hypersomnia, their families, educators, clinicians and researchers."  Leading experts will be sharing their latest research on treatment options, impact of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, comorbidity and how to live a full life with narcolepsy and hypersomnia. Crisp tells us how this day "will offer a unique opportunity for people with narcolepsy and/or idiopathic hypersomnia to mix and mingle with sleep doctors, clinicians and researchers from World Sleep 2019." Crisp shares with us that presentations include "Dr. Thomas Scammell, Dr. Brian Murray, Dr. Yves Dauvilliers, Kelsey Biddle, Dr. Indra Narang, and Shelly Weiss who will address pertinent sleep disorder issues including mental health, transitional care, lifestyle, current research and treatment. There will also be special breakout panel discussions focusing on narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia." In registering for Wake Up Narcolepsy Education Day at Sleep Expo 2019 you will ALSO have access to Sunday, September 22, 2019 Sleep Expo Program– including Public Lecture Series, Facilitator-led Discussion, and Sleep-related Author Tables. To register for this free event, please click here.

In this podcast with Dr. Margaret Moline, Executive Director and International Project Team Lead at Eisai Pharmaceuticals for the lemborexant clinical development program, we hear a first hand explanation about the drug lemborexant, a potential treatment for insomnia, why the need for an additional drug for insomnia and the status of lemborexant new drug application submission. Moline speaks about insomnia as not being about "just one thing."  She explains that, "There are people who have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and some people have a combination of both.  When insomnia is chronic or severe, it likely has an impact on daily functioning."  Moline tells the listeners that "lemborexant is an investigational agent and potential treatment for insomnia.”  Moline emphasizes that "importantly, it is shown that lemborexant would not impair the ability to wake up, which is important in the middle of the night if there is some external stimulus, like a fire alarm or baby crying." Approximately 30 percent of the adult population worldwide have insomnia symptoms.  Eisai is working to develop a treatment for insomnia that would help with sleep onset, sleep maintenance and have low potential of morning residual effects. Moline concludes the podcast by saying that "our company aspiration at Eisai is to help people who experience insomnia to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake ready for the next morning."  Target date for FDA approval is December 27, 2019.

In this podcast with Jeffrey M. Dayno, M.D., Neurologist and Chief Medical Officer for Harmony Biosciences, we hear a first hand update on drug pitolisant, an “investigational drug to help improve excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy in people with narcolepsy.”  Dayno tells the listeners that “Pitolisant works differently than other therapies because it increases histamine in the brain.”  He refers to narcolepsy as a “disorder of sleep/wake state instability.  The sleep/wake switch is deep  in the core of the brain…and narcolepsy is similar to a flickering light bulb because states of sleep and wakefulness are so unpredictable.”  According to Dayno, Harmony Biosciences is “very committed” to a better understanding of the sleep/wake state and the role of histamine to stabilize sleep and wakefulness.  Dayno tells the listeners that there are other symptoms to narcolepsy besides excessive daytime sleepiness.  Cataplexy, or a decrease in muscle tone, can be as subtle as dropping objects or droopy eyelids.  Hallucinations and vivid dreams are also signs of narcolepsy.  You can find more information at www.knownarcolepsy.com.  Dayno mentioned that the FDA allowed Harmony to open an expanded access program for appropriate patients.  For more information, please visit www.thepeacenarcolepsyprogram.com and speak with your doctor.

According to Dorenbaum "Balance Therapeutics began their research by conducting a series of interviews with people with IH to see what issues they really wanted us to address and treat.  Many complained about waking up in the morning, day dreaming during the day, and sudden sleepiness." As of today, there are no drugs approved for IH.  As Dorenbaum explains, "many with IH take stimulants that are approved for narcolepsy.  Although stimulants work for a while, they can lose their effectiveness over time and there are other side effects." In this podcast with Dr. Alex Dorenbaum of Balance Therapeutics, we hear more information about what idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is, how it is currently managed, and how Balance Therapeutics and Arise 2 is working to find a treatment option that can help patients live a healthy, productive lifestyle. Dorenbaum tells our listeners how he began many years ago working for a university researching "cures for rare and difficult diseases."  He describes the various moving parts involved in researching rare diseases for example, pharmaceuticals, the FDA, funding, and available patients for clinical trials. Balance Therapeutics is testing a new drug in the Arise 2 Study, a non-stimulant that could help improve sleepiness of those with Ideopathic Hypersomnia.  The challenge is working with doctors to find patients who are eligible subjects for the study.  "The more people we can find to participate in the studies, the faster we will find a solution....because that is the only way we learn", says Dorenbaum. You can hear more about IH and Arise 2 by listening to our podcast blow Click here for more information:   ARISE 2 STUDY

In this podcast with Joy Elena, Founder of Sleepenvie and Dr. David Klein, Senior Sleep Medicine Physician at MedSleep Canada, Board certified in sleep medicine and assistant professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, discuss the importance of sleep, how how lack of sleep can lead to other health issues, how much sleep we need and how our sleep needs change over time. Dr. David Klein reminds us that "the average adult needs 7 - 9 hours of sleep and many of us are not getting that."  He attributes lack of good sleep hygiene to this epidemic problem.  Dr. Klein talks about the various elements of good sleep hygiene and especially your sleep environment including your room and your mattress. Elena reminds our listeners that a good mattress protector is necessary to keep your mattress clean from dirt, mites and other allergens.  She urges everyone to replace your mattress every 7 - 10 years.  "Although your mattress might seem fine, it will lose the necessary support over time."  Dr. Klein adds that "according to a prominent allergist, 50% of the weight of your mattress after 7 - 10 years is dust mites." For more information, please visit www.sleepenvie.com

Claire Crisp, Executive Director Wake Up Narcolepsy, Inc. The Sleep Forum is proud to provide media coverage for the Wake Up Narcolepsy Conference in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 19, 2019.   The Conference is an informative one day conference in Pasadena with leading experts in the field of Narcolepsy.  Also attending are other narcolepsy non-profit groups, pharma companies and people with narcolepsy.  Dr. Emmanual Mignot,  a sleep researcher and director of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, at Stanford University, is keynote speaker and will be sharing the latest research and treatment options. In this podcast, Claire Crisp, Executive Director at Wake Up Narcolepsy, tells us her personal story with Narcolepsy, some of the goals and achievements at Wake Up Narcolepsy and what to expect at the Education Day on January 19, 2019. Crisp tells the listeners that "she came from London, England to California eight years ago when her daughter Mathilda was diagnosed with Narcolepsy after receiving a routine vaccination."  Crisp wrote a book, Waking Mathilda, because she wanted to give her daughter a voice when she was too young to tell her own story.  Mathilda is now 12 years old and already an advocate for narcolepsy awareness. Exhibitors at the conference is Takeda, Harmony Biosciences, Avadel, Jazz, Hypersomnia Foundation and The Sleep Forum.   Please make sure to check back with us following the conference for full coverage from speakers and exhibitors.    

24-hour support and online tools help customers customize purchase According to Joy Elena, you spend a good part of your life on a mattress, so a mattress should be more than a place to sleep. At the same time, a mattress is critical to sleep. In this podcast we learn about Sleepenvie and Sleepenvie's founder and CEO Joy Elena, who's vision goes beyond the traditional mattress company, to be a company that offers lifestyle products. The company's core business consists of online mattress-in-a-box offerings, plus a number of related products. In this podcast, Elena gives us an overview of how the world of ordering a mattress online works and how the new technologies of mattress making has revolutionized mattresses. Elena maps out Sleepenvie's special features and function as a premier mattress. Elena, who grew up in the mattress business was an online pioneer, offering mattress in 2003. Sleepenvie offers tools and live support to customize the purchasing experience, and we hear about the company's 100-day exchange policy, plus the company's long-term guarantee. Elena discusses the company's involvement with SKETCH. Visit www.sleepenvie.com

“We call it actionable clinical insights,” says Chris Crowley, founder of EverSleep.  EverSleep is a highly specialized sleep tracker that analyzes complex relationships that measures blood oxygen, movement, snoring, pulse rate and insomnia, using a simple wearable device and the user's iPhone, android or tablet as a platform. In the morning the user is provided rich analytics and “plain English” coaching ideas. Crowley likens his EverSleep device to having a thermometer. A thermometer offers one very vital measurement. EverSleep provides a bigger picture on sleep health, but like a thermometer, its designed and priced to be used multiple times at home to measure sleep and changes to sleep over time. Crowley discuses in this podcast how EverSleep fills a gap that allows a person to gain ready and immediate insight into sleep quality. EverSleep allows users to measure the impact of changes they may have made deliberately to improve sleep, or to try to figure out what may be causing a change in sleep patterns. The product looks at 20 different aspects of sleep to provide a personalized report, that includes ideas. In this podcast we learn that EverSleep is easy use, works with almost any mobile device, does not need licensing (no recurring firmware or use charges) and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Crowley discusses a number of use cases that include users who discovered a path off of the use of hypnotic medicines to achieve sleep, and others who discovered that changes had occurred for them to find new solutions beyond CPAP machines. Visit https://www.geteversleep.com/

Betsy Seabert, Founder and Inventor of Chill Angel, had a “light bulb moment that Merino wool, made into sleepwear, could help thousands of women who suffer from hot flashes sleep through the night.” At the time, Seabert was experiencing the loss of her 30-year-old son. At the same time, she was also battling breast cancer. Seabert says that she was, “hardly getting any sleep. “The estrogen blocker the doctors gave me caused hot flashes and sweats that were uncontrollable” leaving Seabert “… desperate for a solution.” She was “waking up every hour in sweat and not being able to get any sleep whatsoever.” It was then that Seabert thought about turning Merino wool into sleepwear. In this podcast, Seabert shares with the listeners her 25 year background in the outdoor apparel industry and her extensive knowledge in high performance, temperature balancing fibers.   Seabert explains the science behind Merino wool and sites studies that have been done to prove that Merino wool is a natural temperature balancing fiber. Seabert describes her product as a “new technology to sleepwear” and has designed woman's pajamas using, what Seabert calls, “a natural miracle fiber, Merino wool.” For more information about Chill Angel or to purchase sleepwear, yoga apparel or lounge wear, please visit Chill Angel

Now that the 24-hour economy is putting an ever-increasing mark on social life, the effects of the disruption of natural biological rhythms are becoming clearer. Disruption of the internal clock results in: Jet lag Sleep / Wake Disorders Winter blues / depression Problems with shift work and night shifts Declining performance, alertness and concentration According to Toine Schoutens, Co-Founder and inventor of Propeaq Light Therapy Glasses, "wearing Propeaq Light Glasses can help with winter blues, jet lag, and sleep."  Toine Schoutens tells the listeners how and why he started thinking about light therapy glasses over 30 years ago. In this podcast, Toine explains how light and darkness influence changes in our behavior and physiology just like in every living creature.  This fundamental rhythm is controlled by genetically manifested timers that reside deep within our bodies and is guided by our biological clock. It dictates our everyday life – from hormone releases to metabolic changes and cardiovascular activities. Toine tells us how "Chronobiology, the science studying the biological rhythm, and has been gaining importance the last 40 years. Propeaq allows us to actively modify and improve our biological clocks in order to lead happier and healthier lives." For more information or to order your glasses, please visit https://www.propeaq.com/en/  

‘It's ironic to me that we use this term “holiday” in the US because (many nations) abroad use the term holiday to describe a vacation,” says Dr. Adam Miller, MD, DDS. In this podcast, Dr. Miller describes the stress that the holidays places on our bodies and how a time of year advertised to be restful and joyous, can create real strain on people. Dr. Miller walks us through some of the body's interlocking systems and discusses how things such as travel, dehydration, social pressures, poor eating (holiday eating), alcohol consumption, time differences and much more can disrupt sleep, not to mention a number of other impacts on health. Dr. Miller outlines the challenge and then offers a strategy to not be defeated by the holiday season. How do we get on what Miller calls, “the sleep train”? Miller thinks that a good night's sleep begins with a well spent morning. “Overall, health is about signaling,” says Miller, who describes how the body wants to thrive and how the body depends on “zeitgebers”, external cues and indicators that tell the body's systems to when to work and how. Deciding that sleep will happen requires a bit of a plan, and Miller offers some ideas on how to do this while being nice to oneself where possible, especially over the holidays. Your brother's uncomfortable guestroom and obligatory difficult relatives, notwithstanding, sleep and holiday do not have to be mutually exclusive. Visit https://www.arisemd.com/

We all know how hard it is to get great sleep while traveling.  “Unfortunately we have evidence that sleep on the road is not as restful as it should be,” Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and consultant at The Benjamin Hotel in New York City, told The Sleep Forum. The Benjamin Hotel is one hotel that takes your sleep seriously.  Although they are based in the one of the busiest cities in the world, their rooms offer you extra amenities to help you get a better night's sleep. In this podcast, Rebecca Robbins tells us how she got interested in the topic of sleep and what she has done to help The Benjamin create their Rest & Renew program for their guests We hope you enjoy the podcast!

According to many researchers, “running hot” can disrupt sleep.   "First, go to bed early. Eliminate technology, which signals to your brain that it's daytime. Read a book to create a peaceful atmosphere. Finally, sleep cool so your body can maintain homeostasis while you sleep." says Tara Youngblood, Co-founder of ChiliPad.   In this podcast, Tara Youngblood discusses sleeping cool and walks us through the technology behind his company's temperature regulating mattress pad. Founded in 2007 by husband and wife duo, Tara and Todd Youngblood, Chili Technology strives to make the best products on the market that positively influence sleep.   "We started with the vision of changing a critically-important component of healthy sleep – the ability to set mattress temperature." To learn more about Chili Technology and how we started, visit us here.

"The Oura Ring can save your life, says Petteri Lahtera, Co-Founder of the Oura Health, a company based in Finland that developed the Oura Ring five years ago.  The Oura Ring is the world's first wellness ring and app that reads how a human body responds to lifestyle decisions by analyzing sleep, activity levels, daily rhythms and physiological responses. According to Petteri Lahtera, "sleep is the foundation of your body and your mind."  Petteri also discusses how "the Oura Ring has been used by athletes in the Olympics to help them determine the optimal training time in their day to achieve the best scores." The Oura Ring is currently available on www.ouraring.com and shipped anywhere in the world from Finland.  Listen to the podcast below.