A Better Night's Sleep

Learn about how chronic pain can interfere with sleep (and what to do about it) with special guest CPT Tracy Beegen (host of the Living Beyond Pain podcast).

Our #1 listener question is: “Why do I wake up in the middle of the night and how can I get back to sleep?” Dr. Jon Olin and Dr. Julie Kinn discuss this common problem and some simple solutions.

Sleep Paralysis Dr. Olin returns to talk about sleep paralysis with Dr. Julie Kinn.

Special guest LT COL Jacob Collen joins Dr. Julie Kinn to help you strategize how to get the best sleep when travelling.

Get tips from experts on overcoming the great struggle: how to get to sleep!

COL Brian Robertson and Dr. Julie Kinn answer listener questions about sleep apnea and using CPAP machines. Learn about "breath juice" issues, your rights when traveling with CPAP, whether to invest in a small travel machine, and COL Robertson's thoughts on surgery.

Dr. Jon Olin and Dr. Julie Kinn answer listener questions on preventing nighttime awakenings and on age-related sleep issues.

Dr. Jon Olin and Dr. Julie Kinn respond to a listener question about preparing for shift work, night work, and unusual schedules.

Learn about sleep related problems and how to get better sleep. Produced by the Defense Health Agency.

COL Brian Robertson (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) tells Dr. Julie Kinn how allergies and reflux affect sleep and insomnia.

COL Brian Robertson (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) and Dr. Julie Kinn discuss how sleep changes throughout childhood and what parents need to know to help their kids and teens develop healthy sleep habits.

Dr. Jon Olin answers your questions! Hear his advice on the snooze button, naps, sleep apnea, best sleeping positions, and tips for buying a mattress. Dr. Olin is the Medical Director of the Evans Army Community Sleep Lab at Fort Carson, Colorado, and he is joined by the Defense Health Agency’s Dr. Julie Kinn.

Dr. Jon Olin and Dr. Julie Kinn talk about Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and how it affects sleep. Jon describes the current research on RLS, the best way to treat it, and the advice he would give a patient.

Jon breaks down the myths and truths of narcolepsy, including how common it is, symptoms, and what it can look like in military service members and veterans. Jon and Julie then discuss the research on the best evidence-based methods of treating this rare but serious disorder.

The docs (Drs. Jon Olin and Julie Kinn) talk about nightmares, including the role of stress, trauma and PTSD in the military and veteran population. Jon describes how to know when to seek help and both medication and non-medication treatments. For more information about the therapy Jon describes, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, try the Dream EZ mobile app.

Jon reminds Julie and the listeners about the different kinds of sleep apneas: obstructive (more common) and central (less common). He then describes a variety of evidence-based treatment options, including Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines.

Julie learns that a sleep study is not research on sleep. Jon explains how clinicians observe a patient's sleep throughout the night, primarily to diagnose sleep apneas. Jon tells listeners exactly what to expect before, during, and after a sleep study and describes a few different options. Jon and Julie then discuss the difference between obstructive and central sleep apneas, and how they relate to insomnia and other issues. Hosts: Drs. Julie Kinn and Jonathan Olin.

Julie tries to stump Jon by asking how he would treat the insomnia and sleep conditions of a few hypothetical military service members and veterans. These clinical examples focus on post-deployment sleep issues, health conditions, use of caffeine, relationship issues, trauma, PTSD, and more. With Drs. Julie Kinn and Jonathan Olin.

Jon and Julie describe a variety of over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription, and prescription medications that are commonly used for sleep and insomnia. Jon explains how these are used, and what the research says about their effectiveness.

After discussing how caffeine can affect sleep and insomnia, Jon and Julie return to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBTi). They describe the final two components of this evidence-based treatment: stimulus control and sleep restriction. Learn more about CBTi with the CBTi Coach mobile app (https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is this week's focus. Jon and Julie talk about two components of this evidence-based treatment: relaxation and sleep hygiene. Our hosts also discuss melatonin, jet lag, and using screens and electronic devices before bed. Learn more about CBTi with the CBTi Coach mobile app (https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach).

Learn about A Better Night's Sleep podcast, and hosts Dr. Jon Olin (Director, Evans Army Medical Center Sleep Lab) and Dr. Julie Kinn (Defense Health Agency). Our hosts describe how the series will focus on both common and unusual sleep conditions, and the best evidence-based methods of treatment.


The views expressed in this presentation are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government