Combating sleep disorders

Approximately 70 million people in the United States are affected by sleep problems. About 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and an additional 20-30 million are affected by intermittent sleep-related problems. However, an overwhelming majority of sleep disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated. Some of the most common ones are insomnia, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, night terrors, sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, and narcolepsy.

Long standing sleep disturbances can lead to nonproductive lifestyles, poor work performance, weight gain, difficulty with concentration, and social avoidance. Some disorders, like sleep apnea, can lead to even more serious problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. There is, therefore, an urgent need for this introduction to the subject of sleep disorders. Chapters include information on: definitions of common disorders; symptoms and problems that signal a possible sleep disorder; descriptions of sleep loss efects and their demographics; explanations of various medical and psychological tests for sleep disorder diagnosis; essential medical treatments; alternative interventions; guided intervention to change thinking about sleep and related health habits; follow-up and maintenance issues; and behavioral changes. (Publisher).

Signs of poor sleep -- Sleep loss effects -- Sleep medicine facts -- How sleep is measured -- Treatments for sleep disturbances -- Change your mind about your sleep -- Alternative treatments for sleep -- Follow-up care -- Common battles -- What you can do to ensure healthy sleep habits -- Menopause and poor sleep -- Emotions and poor sleep -- Dreaming problems and other such matters -- Your health and your sleep -- Sleepy athletes -- Work and sleep -- Healthy practices and your sleep -- Should you try melatonin pills from the health food store? -- Should your pet sleep with you? -- Food and sleep -- Cultural influences on sleep.