Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

#173 - Sleep and Altitude: Only Look Up

Chris Winter, MD

Whether you’re skiing in Aspen, hiking Kilimanjaro, or just wondering why sleep feels so strange in the mountains, altitude messes with your rest in fascinating ways. In this episode we will:

  • Explore the biology of what’s really happening in the brain and body when oxygen thins out
  • Find out why your sleep becomes fragmented and restless, and what recent research reveals about the role of hypoxia, periodic breathing, and even oxidative stress in your slumber at altitude
  • Share new data on how altitude amplifies both insomnia and sleep apnea
  • Unpack the science behind those sleepless nights at high elevation
  • Provide practical, evidence-based strategies to make them better 

Produced by: Maeve Winter

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Thanks for listening and sleep well!