Description
Book SynopsisNews about sleep is everywhere we turn, and the statistics are numbing: Some 50-70 million Americans are affected by chronic sleep disorders and intermittent sleep problems; an estimated 30-35% of adults complain of insomnia; one in every 25 Americans takes a prescription sleep medication; more than a third of American adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis; sleep disorders account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs each year, plus indirect costs due to missed days of work, decreased productivity and related factors. And questions abound: why do we need to sleep at all? What happens when we sleep? What happens to the brain? We know the brain is active when we sleep, but what about the mind? And what are dreams? An accessible and lively take on sleep, this book provides answers to those and other key questions. Along the way, it highlights the lessons a well-known neurologist has learned and what he shares with his patients on a daily basis. It discusses — in terms everyone can understand — what we know about sleep, what can go wrong with it, and what we can do to fix it. It also delves into what some of the great scientists and spiritual teachers have told us about sleep. The book is packed with useful information and suggestions that will improve all aspects of readers’ lives.
Trade ReviewThorough and informative, Barone’s book invites readers to get a better night’s sleep by becoming more engaged with a seemingly passive process. Barone, a neurologist specializing in sleep disorders, addresses readers in a calm and helpful tone, asking them to consider their own situations and stressing that he does not intend the book to constitute a treatment plan or replacement for consulting a physician. Moreover, he emphasizes, everyone’s sleep is unique, and so possible solutions for sleep issues that he discusses include apps, 'natural' remedies, devices like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, and medications, but he says that there’s no single answer that will work for everyone. His most consistent suggestion is to improve sleep hygiene, meaning a person’s habits around going to sleep. His tips for achieving improved sleep hygiene include not using electronics for at least 30 minutes before bedtime and going to sleep at the same time every night. Testimonies from Barone’s former patients appear in each chapter and cover an array of issues, among them apnea, insomnia, and even restless-leg syndrome. The variety of options for improving sleep that are discussed, along with Barone’s considerate tone, will put many readers’ minds to rest. * Publishers Weekly *
A good night’s sleep is often taken for granted, but its lack can lead to a variety of health problems. In this accessible study, Barone, a sleep specialist, examines what is known about sleep, what can go wrong, and what you can do to to fix it. He begins with ‘sleep hygiene tips,’ suggestions that include having a consistent bedtime, keeping the bedroom dark and cool, shutting off ‘blue light’ devices an hour before bed, and trying meditation. He uses patients’ medical histories to define sleep disorders (sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, etc.). As he analyzes their stories, Barone offers various behavioral and medical solutions. The doctor admits that medications often have side effects and that people have difficulties adapting to sleep apparatus, including CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, and experience fear of sleep testing, but he urges anyone who awakes without feeling rested to talk to a specialist. Informative without being alarming, this reassuring guide helps readers assess and take charge of their sleep issues. * Booklist *
Barone has produced a lively, lucid overview of what we know about sleep and how to improve it, drawing upon his experience as an assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital and a specialist in sleep medicine. * Fordham Magazine *
Let’s Talk About Sleep: A Guide to Understanding and Improving Your Slumber is an empathetic resource book for sleep deprivation sufferers, a problem that afflicts a huge number of Americans. . . The authors intertwine scholarly research, case studies, and clinical experience. The writing is clear and concise, and the fonts are easy to read. . . Public, high school, middle school, and college libraries will benefit by including this book in their collection. * American Reference Books Annual *
Sleep medicine is still, very much, the Wild West of medicine. Venturing into sleep medicine, therefore, requires both a reliable map and a trustworthy scout. In Let’s Talk About Sleep, Dr. Daniel Barone and Lawrence Armour utilize medical research, story-telling and clinical experience to create a very helpful map of the principles and practice of sleep medicine. The reader will also come to recognize that Dr. Dan Barone has both the experience and temperament of a trustworthy scout! -- Avram R. Gold, MD, Medical Director, Stony Brook University Sleep Disorders Center
Table of ContentsChapter 1 – Trouble Sleeping? Chapter 2 – The Brain: What Happens When We Sleep Chapter 3 – A New Patient Chapter 4 – Insomnia Chapter 5 – Natural Remedies Chapter 6 – Obstructive Sleep Apnea Chapter 7 – Other Breathing Problems in Sleep Chapter 8 – Movin’ in the Night, Part I: The Legs Chapter 9 – Movin’ in the Night, Part II: The Parasomnias Chapter 10 – Being Too Sleepy Chapter 11– A Broken (Internal) Clock Chapter 12 – Sleep and Technology Chapter 13 – Dreams
