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Entries by Melissa Chefec

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 […]

Do Supplements Really Work for Depression?

By Jessica Migala, Oct 21, 2025 Clinical depression—the most severe form of depression—is complicated, and influenced by a variety of factors including individual brain chemistry, genetics, a history of trauma, and stress. Treatment of the condition, too, is complex, needing to address the biological, genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors at play, which differ from person-to-person. “For depression […]

Yes, the moon really can affect your sleep

By Clarissa Brincat, Oct 16, 2025 “We know that light, whether artificial or natural, can have a suppressant effect on melatonin, so it is plausible that moonlight could have a natural wake promoting effect,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine.  Click HERE for […]

The 10-3-2-1 Sleep Method: A Middle-Aged Woman’s Countdown to Sanity

By Sharon Brandwein, Sep 28, 2025 “Work, especially cognitively demanding tasks, can keep your brain in a state of alertness,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, a dual board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine physician. “Your brain cannot go from 100 mph to zero quickly. Stepping away from work-related stress well before lights out helps signal to your […]

6 Habits That Make Obstructive Sleep Apnea Worse

By Marygrace Taylor, Sep 25, 2025 CPAP therapy uses a mask to deliver continuous air pressure through your airway during sleep, which helps keep the area open and prevents breathing disruptions. But if the mask doesn’t fit correctly, it can end up leaking, which means you might not be reaping all of the benefits of […]

5 Surprising Benefits Of Sleeping Naked—From Better Skin To Hotter Nights

By Shannon Dawson, Sep 19, 2025 Struggling to fall or stay asleep? Your body temperature plays a key role in regulating your sleep cycle, especially during REM sleep, the restorative stage when your brain and body recharge. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, room temperature is one of the most crucial factors […]

The real science behind this viral magnesium sleep hack

By Clarissa Brincat, Sep 16, 2025 “I think we need to be careful any time scientists and especially TikTokers make medical claims,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. The first thing he does when he comes across such videos is to check what […]

Does Melatonin Cause Weight Gain? Exploring the Effects on Metabolism and Sleep Quality

By Jessica Migala, Sep 13, 2025 Overall, “melatonin supplements may lead to weight loss,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double-board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California. One big caveat: “Most of this research is from rat studies, and the doses of melatonin […]

What Are ‘Bipolar Eyes’?

By Elizabeth Millard, Sep 5, 2025 This effect, known colloquially as “bipolar eyes,” doesn’t happen to everyone and isn’t considered a hallmark symptom of the condition. However, it may be noticeable during a manic episode for some, says the psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California, and a medical reviewer at […]

The Egyptian Sleep Method Is Going Viral — But Does It Work?

By Kendra Cherry, Sep 3, 2025 “The Egyptian sleep method involves sleeping under a damp sheet, which cools off from evaporation,” explains Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Because water absorbs heat as it evaporates, your body temperature drops as the water gradually evaporates. Some variations of this method suggest […]

Why You Still Have Stress Dreams About School

By Chantelle Lee, Aug 29, 2025 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor in Menlo Park, Calif., says that dreams of feeling unprepared can stem from stress in your day-to-day life. But dreaming specifically about feeling unprepared at school, he says, could be because those are such formative years in people’s lives. “For […]

Sleep Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Might

By John Loeppky, Aug 26, 2025 According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, that sleep deprivation has been directly linked to severe concerns including increased rates of depression and suicidality.  Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, says that while the effects may not be immediately […]

Why You’re Waking Up Tired – Even After 8 Hours of Sleep

By Claire Wolters, Aug 25, 2025 Doctors and researchers generally recommend that adults sleep seven to eight hours at night. Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, says that younger adults may need more sleep than older adults, but not […]

Hidden sleep danger could increase risk of 172 diseases, major study reveals

By Melissa Rudy, Jul 30, 2025 Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor who is founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, was not involved in the research but commented on the findings. “The more general message here is that there is a benefit to measuring sleep objectively, and looking at more […]

Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Methylphenidate?

By Macy Alcido, Jul 29, 2025 While taking any medication, it’s important to use caution when drinking alcohol, says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a double board-certified specialist in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Dr. Dimitriu specifically recommends limiting alcohol intake when taking methylphenidate. “Alcohol is a sedative, while Ritalin is […]

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