Watch on YouTube - Watch on Rumble - Watch on Vimeo

Nishi Bhopal MD is board-certified in Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, and Integrative Holistic Medicine. She graduated from the University College Cork School of Medicine, completed her Psychiatric residency at Henry Ford Health System, and a fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

She is the founder and medical director of Pacific Integrative Psychiatry, an online practice in California where patients receive a whole-person approach to anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, including nutrition, psychotherapy, and integrative and functional medicine.

In addition to her private practice, Dr. Bhopal is the founder of IntraBalance, an educational platform for physicians and health practitioners that includes a YouTube channel and online courses on clinical sleep medicine for practitioners and patients. Her passion is making clinical sleep medicine easy to understand and accessible to all.

• Introduction to Dr. Nishi Bhopal and Her Background 0:00
  • Barrett introduces Dr. Nishi Bhopal, highlighting her board certifications in psychiatry, sleep medicine, and integrative holistic medicine.
  • Bhopal's educational background includes the University College Cork School of Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, and Harvard Medical School.
  • She is the founder and medical director of Pacific Integrative Psychiatry, an online practice focusing on anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
  • Bhopal is also the founder of Intrabalance, an educational platform for physicians and health practitioners, including a YouTube channel and online courses in clinical sleep medicine.
• Discussion on Sleep Efficiency and Sleep Disorders 1:29
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the importance of sleep efficiency and how restricting bedtime can improve sleep quality for those with insomnia.
  • They explore the complex relationship between caffeine, adenosine, and sleep drive, and how it impacts daily alertness and nightly rest.
  • Bhopal emphasizes the often-overlooked connection between sleep disorders and mental health.
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal agree that most people are sleep deprived, with significant downstream effects on physical and mental health.
• Bhopal's Journey into Sleep Medicine 2:40
  • Bhopal shares her journey from initially wanting to be a pediatrician to becoming interested in mental health and the mind-body connection.
  • She explains how her interest in sleep medicine developed during her residency, influenced by a senior resident going into a sleep medicine fellowship.
  • Bhopal describes her personal struggles with sleep and how she saw the positive impact of restorative sleep on her patients' mental and physical health.
  • She highlights the rarity of psychiatrists in sleep medicine and the dominance of pulmonologists and neurologists in the field.
• Public Health Crisis of Insufficient Sleep 6:33
  • Bhopal discusses the CDC's declaration of insufficient sleep as a public health crisis, with one in three adults in the US being sleep deprived.
  • She explains the downstream effects of sleep deprivation on physical health, including increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment.
  • Bhopal mentions the bi-directional relationship between sleep disorders and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
  • She highlights the public health implications of sleep-deprived individuals driving, leading to fatal car crashes due to drowsy driving.
• Shift in Perception of Sleep's Importance 8:18
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the shift in perception of sleep's importance over the past 10-15 years.
  • Bhopal recalls the initial skepticism from her attending when she decided to pursue a sleep medicine fellowship.
  • They discuss the growing recognition of sleep as a cornerstone of health and its role in neurocognitive degeneration later in life.
  • Bhopal emphasizes the importance of optimizing sleep for overall health and well-being.
• The Glymphatic System and Sleep's Active Role 9:52
  • Bhopal explains the glymphatic system, which washes toxins out of the brain during deep sleep, including proteins like tau and amyloid beta.
  • She describes sleep as an active process, including memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and motor skill learning.
  • Bhopal highlights the importance of sleep for overall health, including its role in neurocognitive function and disease prevention.
  • She emphasizes the need for more research on the glymphatic system and its functions during sleep.
• Functional Medicine and Ayurvedic Approaches 14:57
  • Barrett asks Dr. Bhopal about her interest in functional medicine and Ayurvedic treatments.
  • Bhopal explains that functional medicine focuses on root causes of health issues, while Ayurveda has a sophisticated understanding of the circadian rhythm and gut health.
  • She mentions that she uses elements of both functional medicine and Ayurveda in her practice to support patients.
  • Bhopal emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms.
• Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Sleep Disorders 20:32
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the importance of non-pharmacological treatments for sleep disorders.
  • Bhopal explains the concept of sleep restriction therapy, also known as time in bed restriction, to improve sleep efficiency.
  • She highlights the importance of addressing underlying sleep disorders like sleep apnea before implementing sleep restriction therapy.
  • Bhopal emphasizes the need for a multifactorial approach to treating sleep disorders, including addressing daytime anxiety and optimizing sleep behaviors.
• The Role of Exercise and Nutrition in Sleep 39:47
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the role of exercise in improving sleep quality and sleep drive.
  • Bhopal explains how exercise helps to increase adenosine levels, making it easier to fall asleep at night.
  • They discuss the impact of caffeine on sleep drive and the importance of monitoring caffeine intake.
  • Bhopal emphasizes the importance of a consistent sleep schedule and the role of nutrition in supporting restorative sleep.
• The Importance of Sleep Monitoring and Tracking 44:38
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the benefits of sleep monitoring and tracking using wearables like the Oura Ring.
  • Bhopal explains the importance of heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of stress resilience and overall health.
  • She emphasizes the need to track sleep metrics over time to identify patterns and make adjustments to sleep behaviors.
  • Bhopal highlights the importance of using sleep tracking as an adjunct to other methods of monitoring sleep quality.
• Addressing Sleep Disorders and Patient Education 44:54
  • Barrett and Dr. Bhopal discuss the importance of addressing underlying sleep disorders before prescribing sleep aids.
  • Bhopal shares a case study of a young patient with delayed sleep phase syndrome who was prescribed Ambien unnecessarily.
  • They emphasize the need for patient education and collaboration in developing a treatment plan for sleep disorders.
  • Bhopal highlights the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies and other underlying health issues to support restorative sleep.

Private practice website: https://pacificintegrativepsych.com/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishibhopal/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/intrabalance
IG: https://www.instagram.com/intrabalance
FB: https://www.facebook.com/IntraBalanceLLC/