Notes on a Sleep Doctor

Posted on April 20, 2006 in Lectures

I went to a lecture on Monday, the best of the series I have attended since the first of the year. This fellow slipped in unnoticed because he did not wear the obligatory suit and tie. Because I’d met him in the hallway, I introduced him to the people he needed to meet. And everything else I did or said was unimportant.

This fellow reminded us that doctor came from the Greek word doktor, which means Teacher. He sees his job as teaching people about their bodies.*

Even though we spend 23 years sleeping, doctors received only 2 hours of education about sleep disorders.

He drew a distinction between sleep problems: some have trouble staying asleep and others have problems getting to sleep.

Must be careful when comparing drugs. “What is more potent? 25 mg of apple or 25 mg of orange? What is more efficacious? 25 mg of apple or 25 mg of orange.” You get the picture.

My favorite line: The doctor doesn’t want to give you medication at all if he can avoid it.

Enough sleep is enough sleep for you. Do you feel rested? Then you have slept enough.

“Change behavior to potentiate the best sleep:”

• Be consistent in your lifestyle. Go to bed at the same time every night and , more importantly, wake up at the same time.
• No naps.
• No caffeine after noon
• No alcohol
• Reserve the bed for only two things: sleeping and sex.
• If you go to bed and cannot get to sleep, do not remain there for more than fifteen minutes. Go to a different room. Do something boring. Then try again.

Ninety percent of all people can get by without medications. The trouble is that most people don’t want to work at sleep. They need results now.

The sleep industry does not want consumers to know about antidepressants which are more effective and less dangerous at generating good sleep than the traditional benzodiaphophens. (Lecturer considers Ambien to be a stealth benzo.) Bipolars should not take antidepressants.

*Puts a whole new spin on that childhood game.