Dr. Meeta Singh: Performance Sleep Optimization

MEET DR. MEETA SINGH

Dr. Meeta Singh is a board-certified physician and psychiatrist specializing in sleep science. She is known to be the most significant voice in the field of Sleep and Sports Performance and Health. Dr. Singh has served as a consultant for multiple NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, Olympic, and college sports teams, as well as large organizations, CEOs, and C-suite executives, all seeking to optimize their competitive performance. In addition to working with actively working athletes, Dr. Singh also specializes in providing sleep support to athletes when they’re retiring.

The Role that Sleep Plays in Competitive Performance

Improving sleep improves every aspect of performance as well as mental and physical health. Think of good sleep as an investment in your optimal health and alertness tomorrow. On the other hand, ​​poor sleep has negative impacts on athletic performance. Sleep deprivation has been shown to reduce cognitive functioning, decision-making skills, and focus. It also increases the risk of injury and illness.

“Mentally, sleep deprivation reduces the ability to react quickly and think clearly. People who are sleep-deprived are more likely to make poor decisions and take risks. A lack of sleep also increases irritability and the risk for anxiety and depression. This affects their relationships (personal and business),” says Dr. Singh. “Physically, a lack of sleep increases the risk for many medical concerns, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and stroke.”

What Causes Sleeping Problems?

Dr. Singh says that there are many possible reasons for poor sleep including your sleeping habits, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions. Some causes are minor and may improve with self-care, while others may require you to seek medical attention.

 These may include:

●      Aging

●      Too much stimulation before bedtime (such as watching television, playing video games, or exercising)

●      Consuming too much caffeine

●      Noise disturbances

●      An uncomfortable bedroom

●      A feeling of excitement.

In addition, sleeping too much during the day, lack of exposure to sunlight, frequent urination, physical pain, jet lag, and some prescription medications may also lead to difficulty sleeping.

 For many people, stress, worry, depression, or work schedules may also affect their sleep. For others, sleep issues are due to a sleep disorder such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome.

 “Elite athletes are particularly susceptible to sleep inadequacies, characterized by habitual short sleep (<7 hours/night) and poor sleep quality (eg, sleep fragmentation). Due to their busy lifestyles and high-stress situations, sleep is often a problem and in fact, playing a sport itself becomes an issue for sleep. For example, inconsistent schedules including practice, lifting, travel and game timings, late nights and early mornings, and psychological and physiological stress, can all add up to impact an athlete’s sleep,” says Dr. Singh. “Fortunately, much is known about the important risk factors for sleep inadequacy in athletes, enabling targeted interventions.”

A one-size-fits-all approach to athlete sleep recommendations (e.g., 7–9 hours/night) is not necessarily ideal for health and performance. Therefore, Dr. Singh recommends an individualized approach that should consider the athlete’s perceived sleep needs.

How Sleep Can Affect Mental Health

Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Poor sleep affects your psychological state and mental health. And those with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Dr. Singh notes that Americans are notoriously sleep-deprived, but those with psychiatric conditions are even more likely to be yawning or groggy during the day. Chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of patients in a typical psychiatric practice, compared with 10% to 18% of adults in the general U.S. population. Sleep problems are particularly common in patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance use, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Poor sleep can make mental health issues more difficult to treat and is a risk factor for suicide ideation and suicide. All mental health disorders improve by improving sleep.

 “Poor sleep leads to worrying. Worrying leads to poor sleep. addressing these sleep issues can result in putting a stop to this vicious cycle.” says Dr. Singh.

The Sleep Performance Pioneer

Dr. Singh has pioneered the standard of care in the field of sleep performance optimization. Her individualized services cut through the hype and disinformation about sleep to provide evidence-based guidance to getting the sleep needed to maximize performance. She leverages behavioral science techniques of motivational interviewing, education, and strategically enhanced environmental cues to help clients fit sleep effectively into their busy lives to optimize wellness and performance. Dr. Singh deploys early interventions and sleep health education to engender fruitful sleep-related beliefs and behaviors, empowering clients to optimize their sleep to achieve maximized daytime performance.

 “I am honored to join the Hall of Fame Health as a provider because we have the same vision. We believe in providing high-quality care that meets the highest standard of help that athletes, veterans, and anyone in need deserve,” adds Dr. Singh. “I provide high-quality care that is customized to the individual player's needs. I’m also dedicated to the wellbeing of the entire person while focusing attention on key areas of total wellness common to athletes and their families, veterans, and beyond.”

 In addition to providing high-quality care, Dr. Singh proactively tries to educate athletes and their families about the importance of sleep and mental health so that asking for help is not considered a sign of weakness. She does not minimize the reality that mental illness is associated with a stigma and she believes that knowledge is power and it allows the athlete to seek out help.

To learn more about Hall of Fame Health and providers, visit hofhealth.com, or call us at 866-404-HOFH.