In this episode I interview Dr Sara Nowakowski, Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine who treats patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders at the Baylor Sleep Medicine Clinic. I tap her experience and expertise about what causes insomnia, how it’s different for women, why Ambien isn’t the best solution to solve sleep and the life long method to remedy insomnia that even the College Of American Physicians recommends as the first line of treatment. Questions we covered: General practitioners aren’t often versed on how to deal with insomnia, especially that related to menopause transition hormonal changes. For example, mine prescribed Ambien. What are your thoughts and what does the research say about drugs like Ambien? It seems like there is a link between insomnia and likelihood of dementia. Could you discuss? Why women are more likely to get insomnia As the American College of Physicians recommends CBTi as first line of defense, could you go into why and what research has shown? Where does one find a good CBTi practitioner? CBTi may not be financially available to some people, what are some books or recommended ways someone can try to do it for themselves. What are some of the interesting research results you’ve found in your studies about sleep, sleep behavior? Bio: Sara Nowakowski, PhD, CBSM, DBSM is an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine who treats patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders at the Baylor Sleep Medicine Clinic. She is also a Research Health Scientist at the Houston VA, where she conducts research on sleep, health, and aging. Dr. Nowakowski’s current NIH-funded research aims to assess the efficacy of healthy sleep habits in patients undergoing hip or knee joint surgery in order to optimize recovery and rehabilitation. She has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, is editor of a book for providers on adapting cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and is currently the President of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. https://www.bcm.edu/people/view/sara-nowakowski-phd-cbsm-dbsm/49857504-5f66-11e9-8698-005056a012ee https://www.houston.hsrd.research.va.gov/bios/nowakowski.asp Resources Dr Nowakowski cited in episode for insomnia / improving sleep: VA Improve Your Sleep Workbook: https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/insomnia/workbook.pdf VA Path To Better Sleep: https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/sleep/index.asp Sleep EZ digital CBT-I course: https://www.veterantraining.va.gov/apps/insomnia/index.html#introduction1 Sleep Without Medication pamphlet: https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/sleep https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5836f01fe6f2e1fa62c11f08/t/5c6587cbe79c702fc1385c50/1550157774396/Sleep+brochure_11Feb2019.pdf Finding a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Provider: https://www.behavioralsleep.org/index.php/united-states-sbsm-member Find Dr Nowakowski on twitter: @Sara_Sleep Find me: Instagram: @ironstrongfit Website: IronStrongFitness.net New Episodes Drop every Wednesday 7am ET

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related