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Entries by Melissa Chefec

Navigating the Holidays with ADHD: Prioritizing Self Care

By Sarah Choi, Dec 22, 2025 Alex Dimitriu, MD, has worked with individuals with ADHD for over a decade. He says you should say “no” more often than you say “yes.” “Be more picky,” he says. “The future you will be happy you did.” Click HERE for the full article.

Heart attacks and the holidays

By Georgette Gouveia, Dec 22, 2025 A new study recently made headlines indicating that regular melatonin use was linked to nearly double the risk of heart failure over five years in a large observational cohort (American Heart Association). The authors acknowledge they don’t know if melatonin is the culprit – or if it’s simply a marker […]

Major cannabis study finds little proof for popular medical claims, flags big dangers

By Khloe Quill, Dec 17, 2025 The review found that evidence supporting most medical uses of cannabis or cannabinoids is limited or insufficient, the release stated. “Whenever a substance is widely used, there is likely to be a very wide set of outcomes,” Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo […]

How to Get More Deep Sleep: An Evening Routine That Works

By Jennifer Chesak, Dec 16, 2025 “While sleep is the most restorative thing you can do for your brain, deep sleep is the most restorative part of sleep altogether,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a physician double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Sounds blissful, right? You get to shut out […]

Restless leg syndrome may increase Parkinson’s disease risk, study finds

By Jessica Freeborn, Dec 11, 2025 Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, likewise not involved in the study, told us: “I am not sure I agree with the authors that dopamine may not be the single agent responsible for the [restless leg […]

How Sleep Changes With Age

By Kelsey Kloss, Dec 10, 2025 “As infants, we need almost 20 hours of sleep, with a lot of slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement [REM] sleep,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California.  Slow-wave sleep is the deepest phase of […]

If You Struggle To Fall Asleep, You Might Want To Try This Absurdly Simple Hack

By Ash Jurberg, Dec 10, 2025 Sleep specialist Alex Dimitriu confirms the evidence gap. “While some research supports eye movements as a means to induce calm, this technique has not been studied specifically for sleep. Currently, this approach is anecdotal,” he said. Compare that to other methods: “There is substantial evidence supporting box breathing, progressive muscle […]

Sleep Better With Sjögren’s Syndrome

By Elizabeth Millard, Dec 4, 2025 Unfortunately, getting enough sleep with this chronic condition can be tricky, since its symptoms can be disruptive, according to Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, CA. “Because this condition is characterized by dryness and discomfort, that can […]

This Common Vitamin Deficiency Could Be the Reason You’re Always Tired, Experts Warn

By Beth Ann Mayer, Dec 2, 2025 Yes, vitamin B12 deficiency could be a reason you’re always tired. However, that blood test might reveal you aren’t vitamin B12 deficient, which is why it’s crucial to get one rather than self-diagnose. “It’s important to realize that most people living in the modern world are not vitamin deficient, with the […]

Why Using Your Phone at Night May Not Be as Bad as You Think

By Rebecca Schneid, Nov 20, 2025 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor in Menlo Park, Calif., calls the study “fascinating, because it goes against a very large established body of research which suggests a clear effect on sleep quality from screen use,” citing the 2025 American Cancer Society study as an example. […]

When You Zone Out, It Might Just Be ‘Microsleep,’ According to New Research

By Korin Miller, Nov 10, 2025 It could also be your brain trying to play catch-up from a bad night’s sleep, says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. When you’re in a deep sleep at night, your brain’s glymphatic system “washes out” leftover byproducts from […]

Insomnia Tips: Fall Asleep Faster, Wake Clearer

By Jennifer Chesak, Oct 30, 2025 “[Chronic] insomnia is clinically defined by trouble falling or staying asleep for three or more days a week over a three-month period,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. If you have trouble sleeping, you […]

The 9 Best Foods for Better Sleep, According to Dietitians and a Doctor

By Rachel Kiley, Oct 29, 2025 There are all sorts of remedies—both natural and pharmaceutical—for getting a good night’s rest. But what we consume plays a role—specifically, adding foods for better sleep may make a difference in your quality of Zs. “Food plays a large role in the quality of our sleep,” Alex Dimitriu, M.D., founder […]

Huge Study on Antidepressant Side Effects Could Lead to More Personalized Prescribing

By Erica Sweeney, Oct 28, 2025 Patients often try more than one antidepressant before finding the right fit, This is often due to side effects and effectiveness, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist, sleep medicine physician, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California. Dr. Dimitriu was not involved with the study. “Some people will […]

This Popular Vitamin Might Be Wreaking Have on Your Sleep, Experts Warn

By BethAnn Mayer, Oct 28, 2025 Taking vitamin B12 supplements may cause you to burn the midnight oil, experts warn. “Overly high levels of B12 can lead to sleep fragmentation and earlier waking,” explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine specialist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Click […]

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