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In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Valerie Cacho, a renowned sleep specialist. She will discuss common sleep problems, their causes, and practical solutions for those struggling with sleep issues.

Dr. Cacho shares her personal inspiration, rooted in her father's experience as an interventional cardiologist who often worked without adequate rest. She explains how her passion for preventive health and lifestyle medicine, combined with the profound impact of sleep on overall wellness, guided her career path.

Dr. Cacho emphasizes that poor sleep can lead to serious health issues, including increased risk for cancer, fertility problems, and mood disturbances. Reflecting on her medical training, she highlights the irony of being trained to function with minimal sleep and shares her own struggles with sleep deprivation during her residency.

She breaks down sleep issues using a mind, body, and soul framework. Mentally, stress and hormonal changes can hinder sleep. Physically, conditions like obstructive sleep apnea are often overlooked in women due to gender biases. She notes that women can snore as loudly as men and that up to 90% of women with sleep apnea are undiagnosed. Dr. Cacho also touches on the impact of joint pain, medication side effects, and other physical discomforts on sleep.

Spiritually, she discusses the importance of living a fulfilling life, whether in terms of career satisfaction or life transitions. She uses a blend of art and science to help her patients find the root causes of their sleep issues.

Dr. Cacho addresses the misconception that eight hours of sleep is necessary for everyone, citing research showing that seven hours can be sufficient for good health. She also talks about the importance of not relying solely on sleep aids and the value of cognitive behavioral therapy for treating insomnia.

For those waking up in the middle of the night, Dr. Cacho offers several tips, including addressing untreated sleep apnea, ensuring physical comfort, managing stress, and understanding one’s natural sleep patterns. She suggests tools like the morningness-eveningness questionnaire to determine the best sleep schedule.

About Dr. Cacho:
Dr. Valerie Cacho is an integrative sleep medicine specialist (MD) and women's sleep expert . Her interests and expertise include: diagnosing and treating medical sleep disorders, mind-body therapies for insomnia and whole living.

Website:
https://sleephoria.com
Book link:
https://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Medicine-INTEGRATIVE-MEDICINE-LIBRARY/dp/0190885408
Social Media Links:
https://www.youtube.com/@sleephoria https://www.i

The Power of Peacefulness and Stress Relief Podcast was created by Sharon McLaughlin MD FACS to help normalize mental health.

If you need help creating peace in your life be sure to download our peacefulness workbook.
https://sharonmclaughlinmd.com/workbook

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