AOCOPM 2023 Midyear Educational Conference-Z - Sleep - Howard Teitelbaum, DO, PhD, MPH, FAOCOPM (dist.)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The presentation focused on the importance of sleep in medical education and the broader implications of sleep deprivation. The speaker has over 45 years of experience in medical education, observing fluctuations in medical students' performances correlating with sleep patterns. The talk highlighted the prevalence of sleep disorders, noting that a third of U.S. adults report inadequate sleep, which can increase health risks and affect various life aspects.<br /><br />The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recognizes 80 sleep disorders, yet the speaker focused on the primary ones: insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea. The discussion explored the impact of circadian rhythms controlled by the superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the production of melatonin from the pineal gland.<br /><br />Practical advice was given, like the 10-3-2-1-0 rule for better sleep hygiene, emphasizing reducing caffeine and screen time before bed. Additionally, the speaker stressed cautious use of sleep medications due to potential dependency and interactions, advocating for lowest effective doses and cognitive behavioral therapy for managing insomnia. Non-pharmacological treatments were encouraged.<br /><br />Restless leg syndrome was briefly touched upon, with emphasis on behavioral treatments and medications like gabapentin, though caution was advised with these options. The session ended with recommendations for using tools like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess sleep issues.

Keywords

sleep deprivation

medical education

sleep disorders

circadian rhythms

insomnia

melatonin

sleep hygiene

cognitive behavioral therapy

Epworth Sleepiness Scale