The One Thing You Must Avoid To Get Better Zzzs, Sleep MD Daniel Barone
Dowell
Are you obsessed with sleeping? Do you feel like you can’t get enough sleep? You are not the only one. As the Associate Medical Director at the Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine, Dr. Daniel Barone in New York City sees firsthand how our 24-hour society affects sleep. He actually wrote the book Lets talk about Sleep: A Guide for Understanding and Improving Your Sleep.
Dr. Barone believes that we may be toopreoccupied keeping track of sleep, whether it was by watching the FitBits numbers or our bedside clock. As we talk about technology and insomnia, I invite you to join me.
What made you interested in sleep science research?
My program chairman invited a sleep specialist for a talk when I was in medical school. My focus on sleep helped me realize that I could make a significant impact in people’s lives. It became my specialty after I began to learn more about it. I practice very little general neurology.
Dr. Daniel Barone at Weill Cornell Center for Sleep Medicine
Are you familiar with the problems that sleep sufferers experience?
I have been known to work all night in residency and medical school. Although I’m a good sleeper, I can do better with sleep hygiene. I love video games, but have to stop playing them at night because they keep me awake.
It is a common desire to know how much or how well they are sleeping. However, I am not a believer in the use of sleep technology. It can lead to a unhealthy obsession if you know when you are going to wake up, or how many minutes you have lost. After going to bed, no one should be looking at the clock. It is good to have a better understanding of your sleep, but not to be obsessed with the numbers.
Sleep patterns can be extremely sensitive to disturbances.
It almost seems like a design flaw to the way we sleep.
It is not a design flaw, I believe. It is a design flaw, so what’s the point? It happens. Our ancestors’ early ancestors were often anxious because there was a tiger waiting to destroy their home. It was good to not be able sleep. It was a protection. Even though we were concerned about things like work, our system works the same way.
What role does sleep medication play in your practice?
CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia or CBT is my preferred method of treating chronic insomnia. Although CBT is not easy to follow, it can pay dividends in the long-term. I will often prescribe medication in addition to melatonin to aid the process. Medication can affect sleep stages and quality, but I sometimes have to show patients that they can sleep. Most people consider medication a good option if they have trouble sleeping or are experiencing a lack of sleep.
Your book Lets Discuss Sleep explains that sleep apnea is strongly linked to body weight. Could you speak on that?
Chronic sleep deprivation and nighttime choking are signs that the body isn’t able to adapt to these situations. This is what sleep apnea really is. Low quality sleep can increase levels of stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is released into blood sugar, which can lead to an increase in fat deposits. Sleep apnea has a lot more to do with sleep than just sleeping.
What are your thoughts on using oral devices to treat sleep apnea? They’ve been much more popular in recent years.
A CPAP machine or oral device can be used if your sleep apnea is severe to severe. CPAP is continuous positive airway pressure. It’s very effective. It is not for everyone, but it is effective.
According to my research, insomnia can also affect weight and mood disorders.
An interesting relationship exists between sleep, anxiety, and depression. If someone suffers from chronic insomnia, it is possible that there is underlying depression. There is much more we can learn about this. I would love to know more about sleep disorders than we do about other health hazards, such as smoking.
