One of the highlights of the interview comes when he talks about his experience jumping out a hotel room window as a result of his REM Behavior Disorder, a condition in which people physically act out their dreams:
SleepMatters®: “You are well-known for talking about your experience with a rare sleep disorder (RBD). (I will never forget your description of jumping out a hotel window in Walla-Walla, Washington.) Can you tell us a little about this? How are you doing now?”
Mike: “In my early twenties I was a young comic hustling to get any foothold in the business. I took every gig, every red-eye flight, and drove any distance to make my career work. In my apartment in Brooklyn I had experienced a series of frightening sleepwalking episodes, but I just didn’t think they were serious. I would stand on my bed and try to fight flying jackals, and I had fallen off the bookshelf in my living room, which in my dream was an Olympic podium. Still, I thought I was too busy to see a doctor.
On one trip to Washington state, I was performing at 5 colleges in 4 days. I was staying up late, obsessed with cable news coverage of the war, and eating pizza on my bed while on the Internet right before I went to sleep. That night I nearly died when I jumped through my hotel window in my sleep.
That’s when I saw a sleep specialist and was diagnosed with REM Behavior Disorder. For the most part, I have been able to control these episodes with medication and behavioral changes. I definitely have a lot more respect for the importance of proper sleep.”
Read the rest of the interview with Mike Birbiglia here.
The National Sleep Foundation conducts a nationwide poll each year to gauge Americans thoughts, attitudes, and habits concerning sleep. This year’s topic related to electronic connectivity and sleep. Here are some highlights from the NSF website:
Many Americans report dissatisfaction with their sleep during the week.
The poll found that 43% of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights.
Communications technology use before sleep is pervasive.
Americans report very active technology use in the hour before trying to sleep. Almost everyone surveyed, 95%, uses some type of electronics like a television, computer, video game or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed.
Interestingly, cell phones were sometimes a sleep disturbance. About in one in ten (9%)of generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds) say that they are awakened after they go to bed every night or almost every night by a phone call, text message or email.
Baby boomers are less sleepy than generations Y and Z.
Roughly one in five of generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds) and generation Y’ers (19-29 year olds) rate as “sleepy” using a standard clinical assessment tool (included in the poll) compared to about one in ten generation X’ers (30-45 year olds) and baby boomers (46-64 year olds).
Coping with sleepiness through caffeine and naps.
Americans are coping with sleepiness by drinking caffeine and taking regular naps. The average person on a weekday drinks about three 12 ounce caffeinated beverages, with little difference between age groups.
Sleepiness also played a factor in safe driving practices. Half of generation Y’ers (50%) say they drove while drowsy at least once in the past month. More than a third of generation X’ers (40%) and approximately a third of generation Z’ers (30%) and baby boomers (28%) also say so.
An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, yet many are unaware they suffer from an impairment in their sleep. If you feel tired during the daytime, have medical issues such as Type II Diabetes or high blood pressure, or can’t sleep well at night, it is important to address the possibility of a sleep disorder. Speaking with a Board Certified Sleep Specialist is the first step towards treatment. They can review your symptoms, test for disorders, and formulate an effective treatment plan.
So this National Sleep Week, take the time to improve your health and well-being by getting screened for sleep disorders!
The National Sleep Foundation recently conducted a bedroom poll to determine what environmental factors influence Americans sleep the most. The NSF Bedroom Poll looked at different areas such as temperature, romance, sleep habits, and bed condition and polled 1500 people from all walks of life to get the results.
Respondents were asked to rate the level of impact each factor has on their ability to get a good night’s sleep. Some of the more interesting results:
Pillows and bedroom temperature were the two areas that have the most impact on sleep (70% and 69% impact respectively). Professionals recommend a cool environment as being the most conducive for sleep.
Bedroom darkness and sheets were also considered important factors with 57% and 53% of participants rating them as being of high importance. These are common factors impacting good sleep hygiene, along with bedroom temperature.
Snoring from a bed partner is a common reason for people to lose sleep with 41% of respondents saying it impacts their night. This shows that there are still millions of people being affected by untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its most common symptom, snoring.
The new year is upon us and it’s time to make that list of resolutions, most of which we never keep. But for 2011, improving your health and quality of life can be easily accomplished by addressing two common problems people have with their sleep:
Kick the bad habits: Poor Sleep Hygiene is a leading reason for sleep deprivation and Insomnia, but it is avoidable. Simple steps to improve Sleep Hygiene include eliminating the television from the bedroom, avoiding TV and computer use within 2 hours of bedtime, and avoiding caffeine within 8-10 hours of bedtime. Also don’t overdo the evening alcohol intake and if you do find yourself unable to sleep, go to a separate dimly lit room and engage in a calming activity such as reading until you feel tired again. Taking these simple actions can help your mind associate the bedroom with sleep and can break the cycle of Insomnia.
Stop rattling the windows: Snoring is not only annoying for others around you, it is a major symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea can be a dangerous condition leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. Treatments are available for sleep apnea but diagnosis requires an overnight sleep study at an AASM accredited sleep center. If you have been told you snore, schedule an appointment to speak to a sleep specialist. It’s covered by insurance and treatment of apnea has been proven to help lower blood pressure, improve cognition, and decrease daytime fatigue.
As 2010 comes to a close, all of us at Oregon Sleep Associates wish you and yours a happy holiday. Remember to give yourself the all important gift of a good night’s sleep this season.
Sleep Suffers During Wartime Deployment – The stress of war is affecting our troop’s sleep and peace of mind, making it harder to adjust upon their return home.
Cell phones have become ubiquitous in modern life. Once a rare luxury only available to the rich, now they are so commonplace that even children have them in elementary school. They’re found in our pockets, purses, cars, and workplaces. Unfortunately they’re also found one place they shouldn’t be: the bedroom.
A Pew Research survey recently reported that over two-thirds of Americans now sleep with their cell phones within reach. This may not be a serious problem if people only used them for emergency calls or as alarm clocks, but with the advent of smartphones the usage of cell phones has changed. They are now more commonly used to check email, watch videos, text, and surf the web. These practices, while useful during the daytime, disrupt and delay sleep for many people. In addition to the bad habits cell phones encourage in the bedroom, their screens can actually alter your brain chemistry to disrupt your sleep cycle and cause insomnia. Many phones have bright screens that emit blue and green light. These wavelengths can alter the natural human light reactive circadian process by preventing the body from secreting melatonin, a sleep inducing neurotransmitter. Many sleep specialists who have encouraged people not to watch TV before bedtime for the same reason now extend the warning to avoid cell phones and computer screens around bedtime. If you’re an avid texter, internet surfer, or compulsive email checker try turning of your phone an hour before bed. Don’t worry, it will still be there the next morning and you may just get a better night’s sleep.
Five years ago Oregon Sleep Associates opened its doors for business in Northwest Portland. Since then we’ve helped literally thousands of people get a better nights sleep and improve their health. Our doctors and staff are dedicated to diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of sleep disorders. If you have difficulty sleeping, contact us to get on the path to better sleep for better health.
A recent news story from Westfield, Massachusetts vividly illustrates how the danger of falling behind the wheel. From WWLP 22 in Massachusetts:
“An SUV barreled through a Westfield business around 6:43 Sunday evening. Sgt. Raymond Manos told 22News that 42-year-old Tina Richard of Ludlow crashed her Jeep Grand Cherokee through the Four Mile Country Store on Russell Road in Westfield. Her four-year-old daughter was in the car with her. Both were transported to Noble Hospital with minor injuries. Sgt. Manos said Richard passed a field sobriety test. He said there was no indication that she was drunk or had abused drugs. He said she may have fallen asleep. Luckily, the store was closed and no one was inside at the time of the crash.”
Driving while sleep deprived can inhibit reaction times as much as driving while drunk. Also it has been shown that having Obstructive Sleep Apnea doubles your risk of having a serious crash with personal injuries. If you feel tired while driving, pull over and take a nap. Driving while drowsy puts everyone’s life at risk. For more information about drowsy driving or to set up an appointment to be tested for a sleep disorder contact Oregon Sleep Associates.
