Sleep in midlife can be complicated — shaped by stress, hormone fluctuations, and a lifetime of habits that may not be serving you. Dr. Jade Wu offers a reframe that challenges how many of us approach sleep. It’s not a problem to be solved. Sleep is your friend, one that responds better to patience than control. 

Dr. Wu also explains why the real measure of sleep doesn’t come from a tracker or device but from how alert you feel during the day. We outline the difference between sleep deprivation, insomnia and sleep apnea. And we discuss the potential benefits of CBT-I or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. 

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Thrive Sleep Clinic FAQs

Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications

Genome-wide association study identifies genetic loci for self-reported habitual sleep duration supported by accelerometer-derived estimates

Sleep Disturbance and Perimenopause: A Narrative Review

Sleep Apnea

Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)

To learn more about at-home sleep studies, speak with your doctor and read this

See a breakdown of the evidence for different treatments for sleep

You can find a list of certified CBT-I therapists here

A 2023 paper in JAMA tested 25 over-the-counter melatonin supplements and found that 22 of them contained very different amounts of melatonin and did not match what was on the label: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2804077

Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Sleep in midlife can be complicated &mdash; shaped by stress, hormone fluctuations, and a lifetime of habits that may not be serving you. Dr. Jade Wu offers a reframe that challenges how many of us approach sleep. It&rsquo;s not a problem to be solved. Sleep is your friend, one that responds better to patience than control.&nbsp;
Dr. Wu also explains why the real measure of sleep doesn&rsquo;t come from a tracker or device but from how alert you feel during the day. We outline the difference between sleep deprivation, insomnia and sleep apnea. And we discuss the potential benefits of CBT-I or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.&nbsp;
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://www.thrivesleepclinic.com/faq">Thrive Sleep Clinic FAQs</a>
<a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250828415/hellosleep/">Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications</a>
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6405943/">Genome-wide association study identifies genetic loci for self-reported habitual sleep duration supported by accelerometer-derived estimates</a>
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901009/">Sleep Disturbance and Perimenopause: A Narrative Review</a>
<a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea">Sleep Apnea</a>
<a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/ahi">Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)</a>
To learn more about at-home sleep studies, speak with your doctor and read <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-studies/at-home-sleep-study">this</a>
<a href="See%20a%20breakdown%20of%20the%20evidence%20for%20different%20treatments%20for%20sleep">See a breakdown of the evidence for different treatments for sleep</a>
You can find a list of certified CBT-I therapists <a href="https://www.behavioralsleep.org/">here</a>
A 2023 paper in JAMA tested 25 over-the-counter melatonin supplements and found that 22 of them contained very different amounts of melatonin and did not match what was on the label:&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2804077">https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2804077</a>
Note: In this show, we use &ldquo;women&rdquo; as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

Why is it still so hard for women to find reliable, modern health information about their own bodies? On Decoding Women's Health, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, chair of women’s health & gynecology at the Atria Health Institute, shares expert insights on women’s health, hormones, and longevity science to help you thrive at any stage of midlife and beyond.

Dr. Poynor, a world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on women’s wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Each episode explores a different aspect of how to improve your health during midlife—from heart disease and genetic risks to metabolism, hormones nutrition, cognitive health, and beyond.

Whether you're in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply looking for tools to prepare for the next chapter, take charge of your health—now and for the future—with expert guidance and practical advice to help you thrive. 

Why is it still so hard for women to find reliable, modern health information about their own bodies? On Decoding Women's Health, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, chair of women&rsquo;s health &amp; gynecology at the Atria Health Institute, shares expert insights on women&rsquo;s health, hormones, and longevity science to help you thrive at any stage of midlife and beyond.
Dr. Poynor, a world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on women&rsquo;s wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Each episode explores a different aspect of how to improve your health during midlife&mdash;from heart disease and genetic risks to metabolism, hormones nutrition, cognitive health, and beyond.
Whether you're in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply looking for tools to prepare for the next chapter, take charge of your health&mdash;now and for the future&mdash;with expert guidance and practical advice to help you thrive.&nbsp;

Decoding Women's Health with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor

Decoding Better Sleep with Dr. Jade Wu

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/51464668-7928-4203-b10f-b4400157c188/transcript