In this episode of Hart2Heart with host Dr. Mike Hart sits down with sleep expert Andrew Holmes about the real impact of sleep apnea, the power of CPAP therapy, and why REM and deep sleep matter more than you think. Together, they cover how home sleep testing compares to traditional labs, what poor sleep does to your hormones and cognition, and the most effective ways to treat sleep apnea and reclaim your energy.

Guest Bio and Links:

Andrew Holmes is a registered polysomnographic technologist and founder of Sleep Efficiency, a Canadian sleep diagnostics and consulting service. With over two decades of experience in clinical and home-based sleep testing, Holmes is recognized as a national expert in sleep medicine. He’s worked with the Ottawa Senators, appeared on CTV Morning Live, and provides veteran sleep support across Canada.

Listeners can learn more about at Andrew and Sleep Efficiency at their website, or on IG @sleep_efficency

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to the Hart2Heart Podcast with Dr. Mike Hart

• (0:15) Dr. Hart introduces guest, Andrew Holmes to the show

• (0:30) Andrew’s background in sleep medicine

• (2:00) Founding Sleep Efficency

• (4:30) Home testing vs. hospital labs

• (8:30) Understanding sleep stages

• (13:30) REM sleep and emotional p[rocessing

• (16:30) Challenges in treating Veterans' sleep issues

• (20:00) First signs of sleep apnea

• (25:30) Anatomy and sleep apnea

• (26:00) The role of anatomy in airway obstruction

• (30:00) Genetic factors and sleep apnea prevalence

• (32:30) CPAP therapy - the gold standard

• (36:30) Improvements in sleep metrics with CPAP

• (41:00) Total REM + deep sleep targets - the 3-hour rule

• (41:30) Sleep architecture and age

• (45:00) “The body craves routine. If you're constantly shifting your bedtime, you're throwing your sleep cycles into chaos.”

• (48:00) Ortho somnia and over-tracking pitfalls

• (50:00) How to improve CPAP compliance

• (53:00) Why mask fit and provider choice matter

• (59:00) Final thoughts

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Dr. Mike Hart is a Cannabis Physician and Lifestyle Strategist. In April 2014, Dr. Hart became the first physician in London, Ontario to open a cannabis clinic. While Dr. Hart continues to treat patients at his clinic, his primary focus has shifted to correcting the medical cannabis educational gap that exists in the medical community.

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Social Links:

• Instagram: @drmikehart

• Twitter: @drmikehart

• Facebook: @drmikehart