Sleep the Wonder Drug
Nick van Terheyden, MD, ACPA-C
Digital Health Leader | Clinical Specialist Iodine Software | Physician Advisor | CDI | RCM | Augmented Intelligence| Machine Learning AI | Cognitive Emulation | Podcast Host | Cybersecurity | Speaker | Author
Sleep is a hot topic and despite the odd nature of it from an evolutionary stand point (why would evolution make something that puts you at risk of being eaten an essential biological requirement) it is universal in living things. The notion that we don't need sleep or can survive on less has been repeatedly disproven and for many poor sleep has major negative sequelae on our health and day to day activities. Lack of sleep is oftentimes It implicated in accidents and for certain jobs there are specific rest requirements. If you have ever been unlucky to get caught in major storms that when finally cleared you expect flights to quickly return to normal only to hear
"the crew went illegal"
You are a bystander on the protections put in place for airline crew for the safety of the system of air travel and passengers. What is more surprising is these protections don't extend much beyond the limited industries and activities including medicine. There has been some improvement in limiting hours of residents working in hospitals (when I was a junior resident I worked a 136 hours per week) the limits remain relatively high and still challenge the staff to get enough rest before each shift.
No matter who you are and what your job is you are likely not getting enough sleep - by estimates from the CDC as many as 1 in 3 are not getting enough (in this case defined as 7 hours per night but what is enough is highly individual) sleep. Sleep is highly valuable but poorly implemented
Good news there’s been an AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH! Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and the flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes. You’ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?
The above quote is from Matthew Walker (@sleepDiplomat)- researcher and author of the excellent book "Why We Sleep". Essential reading for anyone wanting to deep dive into what we know about sleep and its incredible positive effect on our health and brains.
The science is in and the benefits of sleep are clear so how do you get yours.
You can read more here and watch my short video on Incremental Steps to getting a good nights sleep and developing good Sleep Hygiene:
How to eliminate the deep exhaustion of burnout … permanently … is what I can show you. If regaining your energy , sleep , health and enjoyment in life sounds good but feels unreachable … book a call with me
5 年Yes it’s not just REM it’s the whole cycle. I bought that very book a few weeks ago not for myself but most of my burnout clients have ghastly poor sleep and I felt getting up to date was a good plan I use a Fitbit Perhaps not as accurate as asleepclinic but heaps more convenient. I only measured mine because friehdsshowed me their traces and I was curious as it looked bad to me When I compared to mine THEY were shocked I’m thinking of getting a spare one to loan to clients. There are a host of sleep disorders and conditions affecting sleep but by far the most common i reckon is ‘busy busy syndrome’ with or without burnout and sometimes though not always.combined with poor sleep habits I’m fascinated by sleep as having experienced sleep deprivation in my 20s due to work I am so grateful to sleep well. My family : known as the Rip van Winkle family !
How to eliminate the deep exhaustion of burnout … permanently … is what I can show you. If regaining your energy , sleep , health and enjoyment in life sounds good but feels unreachable … book a call with me
5 年Nick van Terheyden, MD I sleep 7-8 hours like a log. I do have an evening wind down routine. On checking my REM I find I have much higher amounts of it & of deep sleep than most of my friends. I can also catnap almost to order ... anywhere... anytime. The defining factor? I’d guess I don’t try to fit too much into my life and I’m choosie what I do with my time & I say ‘no’ quite a lot :-) . Oh & I meditate which I think helps put a damper on excessive thinking so when brain gets told it’s beddybyes... it just lets go. Like you I had my fair share of inhumane sleep deprivation when a junior doctor in the 80s and I know I couldn’t & wouldn’t do that now. I look for ways to leverage what I achieve rather than assume ‘more work ’ means ‘achieve more’ ...Which it doesn’t. 8 hours work.. 8 hours family/ leisure 8 hours (quality) sleep is a good mantra But hours of commuting/taking work home/ always reachable through smartphones etc is very disrupting & is leading people towards burnout . Once burnout arises sleep becomes chronically unrefreshing so a horrid catch 22 or spiral arises. So I think the increase in concerns about sleep mirrors the increase in busyness and distractions in general & in burnout. #burnout #sleep
Consultant specializing in Election Integrity and Cloud AI frameworks and Cryptology technologies.
5 年All part of my beach bum strategy to life...