Lizzie Benge, MD
@lizziebenge.bsky.social
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Sleep Medicine Physician | Harvard Med Faculty 💙
#MedSky
In my clinic, I’m seeing a rise in new insomnia cases—and worsening sleep in those with chronic insomnia It’s not just poor habits. Doomscrolling has become a silent disruptor, fueled by economic stress and job insecurity Let’s break down the science behind setting a digital curfew 🧠💤 🧵👇
#MedSky
6 months ago
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🧵Mind-Body Practices for Sleep During Economic Stress (1/8) Tough economic times don’t just hit wallets—they hit sleep, too. Patients lose rest. Physicians burn out. But there's hope. Mind-body strategies can restore rest and improve well-being. Here's how👇
6 months ago
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Spring is here! 🌸 And with longer days + later sunsets, your sleep might be feeling the shift 🌞😴 To help you make the most of the season and protect your rest: ✔️ Dim lights ~2 hrs before bed ✔️ Keep a consistent wake-up time
6 months ago
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If you or your patients are dealing with restless legs syndrome (RLS), don’t forget the metabolic work-up! Iron studies (including ferritin) are key, but don’t stop there—vitamin D, TSH, folate, and B12 all deserve a look. Sometimes the fix starts with a lab draw 💙
#Medsky
#sleepmedicine
#RLS
6 months ago
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It’s Sept 2020. Your attending is rounding on ICU overflow patients… at the tennis courts. Your senior is explaining convalescent plasma via a Haitian Creole interpreter. The ICU rejects your DKA admit because ‘the bicarb isn’t that bad.’ Your EMR searches for “Atlantis insulin” are futile
7 months ago
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Sonata (zaleplon) for early AM awakenings? ⏳💤 Its rapid onset & short half-life make it a potential option for middle-of-the-night insomnia. But before prescribing—screen for OSA!
7 months ago
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One positive thing about this year? I've had an exceptionally good reading streak! 📚✨ To celebrate hitting 20 books in 2025, my favorite discovery so far is Daughter of the Empire by Janny Wurts & Raymond E. Feist
7 months ago
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This Sunday, we lose an hour of sleep as clocks spring forward! Stick to your sleep schedule, limit evening screens, & get morning light to adjust faster 🌞😴
#Medsky
7 months ago
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A morning filled with heartbreaking stories 💔 🔹 Patients losing jobs 🔹 Medication costs forcing impossible choices 🔹 An 83-year-old back to work just to afford rent These tragedies are unfolding daily. Patients left choosing between survival and dignity with no end in sight
#MedSky
7 months ago
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February 2021. A heart transplant patient comes into the ED with COVID. After months of watching people slowly die on ventilators, I knew what came next. I braced myself for another tragic ICU admission. But when I saw them in the ED...
7 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Rana Awdish MD
8 months ago
Nothing like asking HCWs to navigate an intentional, vaccine-preventable pandemic after the last few years. 🙄
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🧵 Caffeine & Sleep: What You Need to Know ☕😴 A short thread on how caffeine affects sleep, backed by science
#MedSky
8 months ago
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✨ Celebrating ✨ our 43°F temperatures in Boston today! ☀️❄️
8 months ago
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In sleep clinic, I get asked about melatonin more than any other supplement. 💊 Here is some helpful information to guide use:
8 months ago
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To every PCP out there—THANK YOU 💙 As a specialist, I see firsthand how much your work impacts lives. And trust me—patients tell me all the time how deeply they appreciate you You are truly the backbone of healthcare 🙌
#MedSky
8 months ago
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❄️ As temperatures drop, both physicians & patients should be aware of how cold weather affects sleep!
8 months ago
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Has anyone incorporated GeneSight or other pharmacogenomics* into their practice? 🧬📷 It’s starting to become more common in our hospital system; the impact on patient outcomes remains to be seen Would love to hear from others—how has it influenced your prescribing?
#MedX
#Pharmsky
8 months ago
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Our puppy Cannoli has not been enjoying all the time indoors with the recent snow. We have, however, been enjoying the extra sunlight in the evenings! A good reminder that even on cold, snowy weekends, spring is on the way ☀️❄️🐶
8 months ago
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This week, I had a few early morning awakenings—an unusual chance to test the advice I often give to those with sleep maintenance insomnia. I tried: ✅ Getting out of bed (stimulus control) ✅ Relaxation techniques ✅ Sleep deprivation I found sleep deprivation to be the most effective!
8 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Shematologist, MD
8 months ago
Roses are red, Violets are blue, Ferritin reference ranges are garbage, And sex based hemoglobin ones are too.
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🚶♂️Afternoon energy slump? A short walk or some light stretching can help boost circulation, oxygen, and alertness. If you can, step outside—sunlight ☀️ supports your circadian rhythm and alertness levels More tips (including mine!) here:
www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/st...
#SleepMedicine
#MedSky
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Stay hydrated, chew gum, listen to music and more tips to avoid the afternoon slump
If you're dragging after lunch due to the afternoon slump, try these tips to perk up.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/stay-hydrated-chew-gum-listen-120019151.html?guccounter=1
8 months ago
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Was sorry to receive the email yesterday about the upcoming layoffs at MGB. Thinking of all my colleagues affected during this challenging time. Medicine is hard enough—supporting each other is more important than ever
#MedSky
8 months ago
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Excited to share my insights on tackling winter insomnia in Bustle! ❄️😴 Shorter days can disrupt sleep, but there are ways to rest better
#SleepHealth
#MedSky
Check out the full article here:
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Can't Sleep? You Might Have "Winter Insomnia"
Experts recommend seven ways to combat "winter insomnia" and finally get deep, refreshing sleep.
https://www.bustle.com/wellness/winter-insomnia-cant-sleep-tips
8 months ago
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1/5 Congrats to the Eagles—Super Bowl LIX CHAMPS! 🦅🏆🎉 As we celebrate this incredible win, let’s take a moment to talk about an underrated key to peak performance… sleep!! 🛌💪 Because even the best athletes need quality rest to play at their best. Let’s dive in! 🏈👇
8 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Shematologist, MD
8 months ago
That Pfizer commercial with a kid who had cancer has me 😭
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Oni Blackstock, MD MHS
8 months ago
In happier news, today is National Black Women Physicians Day. My fellow Black women physicians and I proudly stand on the shoulders of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895), who, in 1864, became the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
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Just received a beautiful thank-you email from a physician who read my work—it truly made my day! 🙌 Research can be tough, but moments like this remind me why it’s worth it. Also, a great reminder to reach out and appreciate the authors whose work inspires me. Gratitude goes a long way! 💙
#MedSky
8 months ago
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A snowy day in Boston! ❄️ ⛄️ 🏥
8 months ago
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🧠 Delayed Circadian Rhythm Disorder (DCRD): More than just "night owl" behavior! 🌙 Patients with DCRD struggle to sleep & wake at socially acceptable times due to a misaligned internal clock. 🕒 Often mistaken for insomnia, but melatonin, light therapy & CBT-I can help!
8 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Kyle Swanson, MD, FAANS, FCNS
8 months ago
We must keep working to defund billionaires and support local businesses. I’ve given way too much money to Amazon for ebooks. Recently I’ve started using
bookshop.org
, that partners with local bookstore, and now has a good ebook app for your phone.
apps.apple.com/us/app/books...
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Bookshop.org Ebooks
Bookshop's mission is simple: To help local, independent bookstores thrive in the age of ecommerce. Now with Bookshop's new ebook platform, your ebooks will support your local bookstore as well. In ...
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bookshop-org-ebooks/id6465290096
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Karen K. Ho
8 months ago
Admittedly, there's a lot of doom to scroll right now. How about a screen break? Can you dance to a favorite song, make a meal, do some stretches, play with a pet or take a hot shower? Do your best not to stay up late tonight. You still deserve time to rest and recover.
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1/ Ever scrolled through social media late at night, only to feel more anxious & unable to sleep? 😵💫 You're not alone. Let's talk about how seeing stressful or disturbing content affects sleep and what you can do about it. 🧵👇
#SleepHealth
8 months ago
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We talk about diet and exercise all the time, but how often do we give sleep the same priority? 🛌💡 Sleep deprivation quietly fuels chronic disease, cognitive decline, and even burnout. Prioritizing sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for long-term health
#MedSky
#SleepMedicine
8 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
8 months ago
You've made it.
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📊 Wearable tech is revolutionizing sleep medicine! From smartwatches to rings, these devices provide real-time insights into sleep stages, heart rate variability, and nocturnal movements. But how accurate are they? ⏳
8 months ago
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❄️ A light dusting of snow greeted us this morning—nature’s way of reminding us to slow down, breathe, and embrace the beauty of winter. ☕✨ Taking a moment before to appreciate the view before the day begins. Rest is medicine.
#MedSky
9 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Shematologist, MD
9 months ago
The world would be a better place with universal basic income and universal minimum sleep duration.
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The ongoing shortages of stimulants and
#Zepbound
are making life tough for so many—physicians & patients alike. I hope everyone’s January 97th, 2025, is going better than mine. 🫠 Counting down to February, only 17 weeks to go, right? 🤦♂️
#MedSky
#SleepMedicine
9 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Liz Goldberg, MD, ScM
9 months ago
If we care about helping those who are home bound, with mobility issues, with workplace policies that make it hard to travel to appointments, then we’d meet people where they are. Also, many clinicians say it helps them have better quality of life, too.
#telehealth
#Ableism
add a skeleton here at some point
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Disappointed by the short-term Medicare telehealth extension—only until March 31, 2025. 😔 For many, telehealth services are a literal lifeline
9 months ago
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In times of uncertainty and chaos, rest is a quiet revolution. 🛌💙 Prioritize yourself: hydrate, meditate, eat well, exercise, and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep nightly. Together, we can endure this long road ahead
#MedSky
9 months ago
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CPAP is the gold standard for treating OSA, but the best treatment is the one a patient can actually use consistently. Oral appliances offer a great alternative for those unable to adapt to CPAP. It’s all about improving sleep & health! 💤💡
#MedSky
9 months ago
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Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED), a thread 🧵: SRED is a parasomnia with involuntary eating during sleep, often in non-REM stages. Key signs: unusual food choices 🍦🥶 & limited recall
#SleepMedicine
9 months ago
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reposted by
Lizzie Benge, MD
Shematologist, MD
9 months ago
I’m going to continue to love those around me, do good at every opportunity, support those who need it most, and find happiness wherever I can.
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Distressing events like national elections or images of wildfires can take a real toll on sleep. If you're struggling, you're not alone—this is a normal response to extraordinary stress. Here are some gentle ways to care for your sleep during tough times:
9 months ago
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Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you find some time to recharge, relax, and enjoy the little moments this weekend. You've earned it. 💙✨
#MedSky
9 months ago
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Bruxism (teeth grinding) isn't just a dental issue—it may signal underlying sleep apnea. Teeth grinding often occurs as the body struggles to open airways during sleep. Understanding this connection can lead to better diagnosis & treatment for both conditions 💤🦷
#SleepHealth
#MedSky
#OSA
9 months ago
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As a sleep medicine physician, I value the power of rest & relaxation—and the Boston Public Library Hygge Kit is a perfect recipe for cozy comfort! 🕯️📚☕ I am so impressed by the thoughtfulness and creativity of their team. Kudos to the incredible library staff for this amazing initiative! 👏❤️
9 months ago
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🛌💤 Rest isn't a luxury—it's a necessity! For physicians & patients alike, weekends are a chance to recharge your physical & mental health. Prioritizing rest improves focus, mood, and overall wellness. ✨ Skip the guilt. Your health matters.
#PhysicianWellness
#SleepMatters
💤
9 months ago
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Thrilled to share that my first patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been approved for subcutaneous
#Tirzepatide
under Medicare! 🎉 A promising step towards improved weight & OSA management. Exciting times in medicine! 🌟💉
#SleepMedicine
#MedSky
9 months ago
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