I am delighted to connect with Dr. Andrea Matsumura today. Dr. Matsumura, affectionately known as the Sleep Goddess, is a board-certified sleep medicine physician, menopause expert, speaker, and the founder of the Dream Sleep Method. 

In our conversation today, we explore how different life stages impact our sleep quality. We discuss the effects of wearable technology, orthosomnia, and sleep stages, and explain why sleep quality is more important than its quantity. Dr. Matsumura highlights the red flags for sleep, breaks down how sleep deprivation affects our health, and examines specific sleep issues, including sleep-disordered breathing, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, chronic insomnia, and the challenges of shift work. She explains why sleep apnea is seen more commonly in menopause, and how it occurs in 67% of menopausal women, yet most fail to realize that they have it. We also tackle the risks of untreated sleep apnea and the sleep syndrome of menopause, sharing ways to address sleep issues with appliances, technology, medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and ACT therapy, and pointing out those that have proven to be ineffective. 

This conversation with Dr. Matsumura is truly invaluable, and I look forward to reconnecting once her new book is published.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How hormone changes in menopause impact airway function and sleep quality.

Why sleep apnea in women often goes undiagnosed 

How fragmented sleep affects brain function and mood

Why even mild sleep apnea can have significant health consequences

How different hormones influence specific stages of sleep.

How hormone therapy can improve sleep quality without curing sleep apnea

The value of oral devices and positional strategies for supporting breathing at night

How CPAP therapy can transform sleep and improve cardiovascular health

The benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy for addressing insomnia 

Why prescription medications and supplements seldom solve long-term sleep problems

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Pre-order Dr. Andrea’s book, The New Perimenopause.