The Sleep Solution: Dr Audrey Wells On How Good Sleep Will Lead To a Healthier, Happier Life
An Interview With Shawna Robins
Reduced Pain Perception: Sleep plays a role in pain management. Sleep helps reduce pain perception by allowing the brain to go through its restorative processes that balance pain. During sleep, your body releases natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins. When someone is sleep deprived or lacks sleep, it can increase their pain sensitivity by altering the activity of brain regions that process pain.
In today’s fast-paced world, sleep often takes a backseat to our busy schedules and endless to-do lists. However, quality sleep is crucial for our overall health and happiness. How can we prioritize sleep to improve our well-being and lead a more fulfilling life? As part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Dr. Audrey Wells, MD.
Dr. Audrey Wells, MD, is a leading figure in the world of sleep and obesity medicine. As a board-certified physician in both specialties, her dedication to helping people improve their sleep and overall health is profound. With her expertise in sleep apnea therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), and life coaching, Dr. Wells provides comprehensive solutions to help people feel their best.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to ‘get to know you’. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your backstory?
I’ve had bouts of severe insomnia and am now capturing the beginning of my own sleep apnea, so I know very well how sleep problems can challenge you. This has only strengthened my commitment to helping my patients through their own sleep difficulties. My approach typically involves a combination of education, support, and creative personalization of therapy options. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sleep care, and I love to partner with motivated patients who want to enjoy all the benefits of healthy sleep.
I am the Sleep Medicine Advisor for CPAP.com and the Founder and CEO of Super Sleep MD, a board-certified physician in both sleep and obesity medicine, and a certified life coach. My experience in sleep medicine spans two decades and includes expertise in multiple sleep apnea treatment options, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and life coaching. I help provide comprehensive solutions for people to feel their best.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to your particular career path?
During my medical specialty training I took frequent overnight calls in the hospital. Although I loved the work, I began to bump up against my limits when it came to sleep deprivation and tolerance for an irregular sleep schedule. I felt incredibly stressed. I developed high blood pressure and was put on medication. I gained weight. I had trouble with my memory and experienced heart palpitations. At one point, I dozed off in my car when I had stopped at a traffic light. I was driving home after being up all night in the hospital. I was startled by the sound of a horn behind me and looked up to see a green arrow for a left turn. But I couldn’t make sense of it at the time- I didn’t know what the green arrow meant, and I knew that was not right. That was literally a wake-up call for me. I knew I couldn’t continue in a specialty that involved overnight calls. And the field of sleep medicine presented itself as an option. I was drawn to it immediately, and I’ve never looked back.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the sleep and wellness fields? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
My board certification in both sleep and obesity medicine showcases my deep understanding of the links between sleep and weight, allowing me to develop comprehensive solutions for overall health. My expertise in CPAP therapy, CBT-I, and life coaching also provides me with a diverse toolbox to address sleep issues from various angles, which includes medical intervention, behavioral adjustments, and mindset shifts. I’m able to not only address sleep problems, but empower my patients to take charge of their sleep and improve their overall well-being through sustainable lifestyle changes.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t– you’re right.” This is a theme that runs through all of our lives, and it’s a lesson that is simple but not easy. When you think about how to improve your health– whether it be sleep, diet, exercise, or your mental health– it’s all about positive behavior change. True behavior change is only accomplished when we change how we talk to ourselves. This creates motivation, resolve, and resilience that propels us forward
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. Can you share an impactful case study or example from your experience where improving someone’s sleep significantly transformed their overall health and well-being?
Many times I’ll walk into an exam room and see a patient with their arms crossed, feeling reluctant to be in a sleep medicine clinic– often it’s because they are feeling that it will only lead to a CPAP machine and they don’t want “THE MASK”.
One patient stands out, I’ll call him Eddie. He was with his wife when I first met him, and she did most of the talking. He had his arms crossed and was clearly wanting to be anywhere but in my exam room that day. His wife explained that he had AFIB, diabetes and hypertension. His cardiologist had been recommending a sleep evaluation for years, but became insistent after Eddie had a heart attack a few months prior. I spent quite a bit of time with them at that initial visit. His risk for sleep apnea was high, and so was his risk for having another heart attack. I did my best to educate him and his wife about the dangers and told him I was worried about him. But he didn’t go forward with scheduling a sleep study as I had recommended.
Sometime later, I saw his name on my clinic schedule again. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked in the room, but he jumped up from his chair to shake my hand, smiling and saying he was so glad that he got an earlier appointment with me because a spot opened up. It was a complete 180 from what I had seen before, and I asked him to give me an update.
He told me that about a week after our first visit, he and his wife were doing some errands early in the morning. He got out of his car and was walking with her in the parking lot when crushing chest pain came on and brought him to his knees. It was a come-to-Jesus moment. He told me that he sent up a prayer right then– if he could just live through this then he would get back to my office and really take care of his sleep and his heart. He managed to survive and now he was going to make good on his promise. He was a model patient from that day forward, and his wife later told me that her sleep was so much better too.
What are some of the most surprising findings from your research or clinical practice about how sleep affects different aspects of our lives?
The effects of sleep problems seem to get blamed on “just getting older” a lot. Resolving your sleep problem can pull you out of your “brain fog” and put you in a better mood. For anyone who values being productive, optimizing sleep has a direct benefit to your creativity and ability to focus. Sleep is an amplifier- great sleep will enhance your health and poor sleep will poison it (especially in the last decade of your life).
Can you tell us about a time when you personally experienced the profound effects of poor sleep and what you did to overcome it?
During my career as a sleep medicine physician, I went through a period of grief which caused an incredible bout of insomnia. This was very humbling for me, because I realized that there is a “book smart” approach to insomnia, and there is a “street smart” approach. I tried all the things I recommend to people, and even explored for out-of-the-box approaches. The relief came from a combination of things that I landed on after trial and error. It took diligence and a lot of WORK. The experience taught me a new level of patience for my patients and opened my mind to possibilities that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.
Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. Can you please share “5 Ways That Better Sleep Will Improve Your Life”? If you can, kindly share a story or example for each.
1. Stronger Relationships & Improved Social Interactions:
Sleep deprivation can reduce activity in parts of the brain that encourage social engagement. Sleep-deprived people may also have less activity in the theory of mind network, which helps us assess the emotions and intentions of others. These factors can make it harder to hold conversations, process information from others, and analyze social situations. With a good night’s rest, individuals can regulate and control their emotions better. They’ll be able to be more empathetic and listen attentively, which can help in building stronger relationships and stronger social interactions.
For example, You’re arguing with your partner over a very small issue. Looking back, you realize the argument was pointless and could’ve been avoided. The two of you were extremely irritable and did not want to be bothered, as you both didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Getting enough sleep allows you to approach situations with more patience and understanding, so if you were both able to get enough sleep the night before, the argument could’ve been defused easily, as you both would be more even-keeled and understanding due to a great night’s rest putting you in a better mood. When you prioritize sleep, you’re going to feel well-rested and can communicate effectively, helping you develop stronger and more harmonious relationships with others.
2. Glowing Skin & Healthier Appearance:
It can be very telling if someone has been lacking in sleep as even one night of poor sleep can showcase hanging eyelids, swollen eyes, darker under-eye circles, and paler skin just to name a few. When someone is sleep-deprived, the body produces stress hormones that can lead to dull-looking skin, so when someone prioritizes sleep, it gives your skin enough time to repair itself, allowing you to have a healthier and youthful appearance. When you get enough sleep, it allows your body to produce more collagen, which gives your skin elasticity and a youthful appearance.
An example: You have your final presentation at work to secure a big client. You stayed up all night prepping and organizing the presentation to make sure everything was perfect. You wake up the next morning and see that your skin is all dull and puffy. With eye bags under your eyes, you go to work to present and you notice your peers can see through your physical appearance that you didn’t sleep well the night before. On the flip side, you’ve prioritized getting a good night’s rest before the big presentation. You walk into work and your colleagues compliment you on your radiant complexion, which makes you feel ultra-confident, all thanks to the restorative power of sleep.
3. Faster Recovery:
Sleep is very important for muscle repair and physical recovery. While you’re sleeping, the body releases hormones to increase blood flow to the muscles during the deep sleep stage. This is essential for all individuals, but especially people who are very physically active like athletes, as it allows them to recover faster, train harder, and reach their full potential.
An example would be, if you’re an individual who loves rock climbing, you often extend your physical abilities to climb the rocks and reach the top. After a night of quality sleep, you wake up feeling refreshed and your muscles feel less sore, which allows you to recover faster and achieve your next climb with newfound strength and energy. On the other hand, if you didn’t get a good night’s rest, it’s more than likely you’ll still feel sore or haven’t fully recovered from your previous climb.
4. Enhanced Creativity & Problem-Solving:
Sleep isn’t just about rest as it’s also a time for your brain to process information well enough to get your creative juices flowing. During sleep, your brain develops connections between ideas, creating innovation and problem-solving skills. Those resemble the instances we see in cartoons when a character has a sudden idea and the lightbulb appears above their head.
Imagine you’re an artist working on writing songs for your album. Your due date from your label to turn in the project is coming up, and you want to make sure it’s your best one yet. As you’ve spent many late nights in the studio, you’ve started to get writer’s block, and are struggling to develop unique concepts for your songs. On the other hand, if you decide to limit or eradicate the late-night studio sessions to prioritize your sleep, your ability to think more clearly and be more creative will increase. Writing your songs and developing those concepts will come easier to you than it would if you didn’t prioritize your sleep, and you’ll be able to turn in that project on time and feel great about it at the same time.
5. Reduced Pain Perception:
Sleep plays a role in pain management. Sleep helps reduce pain perception by allowing the brain to go through its restorative processes that balance pain. During sleep, your body releases natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins. When someone is sleep deprived or lacks sleep, it can increase their pain sensitivity by altering the activity of brain regions that process pain.
For example, let’s say you’re a construction worker. Your line of work can be very physically taxing and you begin to experience chronic back pain from your long hours of physical labor. When you’re sleep-deprived, your pain tolerance decreases and your discomfort levels are even more debilitating. However, when you start prioritizing sleep, your body is able to release more endorphins, which are essentially natural painkillers produced in the brain. With enough sleep, you might find that you can manage your back pain more effectively throughout the day.
What are some of the most memorable success stories you’ve encountered where individuals drastically improved their lives by changing their sleep habits?
One of my patients was a long-haul trucker who came to me for sleep apnea treatment. I helped him with that, and also counseled him on making changes for sustainable weight loss. At one point I wrote some instructions on my prescription pad– not for a medication but for a couple of behavior changes that were sabotaging his goals. The next time I saw him he had lost 70 pounds. He took out the prescription I wrote from his wallet- worse for wear but he kept it with him as a reminder for what he had to do. I was incredibly proud of him.
How have advancements in sleep science and technology changed the way you approach sleep wellness, and do you have any personal anecdotes about these changes in practice?
Wearable sleep trackers are a good thing, although they have limitations. I embrace the idea and look forward to the day when accuracy is improved. There are finally some new innovations in sleep apnea treatment on the horizon. I would like to see more advancements in detecting objective sleep quality measures, especially for women.
Wonderful. We are nearly done. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I’d love to have lunch with Arianna Huffington. Her story and mission are powerful and we could geek out on sleep during appetizers. But then I’d like to get to a meatier issue: sleep and women– how the cultural expectations and invisible load directly compete with getting enough sleep. I’ve had success coaching women about shedding the mental burdens that keep them up in the night. She has a take on sleep as a feminist issue and I would love to explore that. Finally, over cheesecake and decaf coffee, I would like to know more about her nap pod.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work by going to Supersleepmd.com.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Shawna Robins is an international best-selling author of two books — Powerful Sleep — Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain and Restore Your Life, and Irresistibly Healthy — Simple Strategies to Feel Vibrant, Alive, Healthy and Full of Energy Again. Shawna is the founder and CEO of Third Spark, an online wellness hub for women over 40 who want to reignite their sleep, reset healthier habits and respark their lives. Shawna is a sleep expert, hormone health expert, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC). She has been featured on many podcasts including Dr. Mindy Pelz’s “The Resetter Podcast” and in Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and The Huffington Post. A free download of her latest book can be found at www.thirdsparkhealth.com/powerful-sleep/ You can follow her on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
