Part 1 - Couldn't Sleep at All Last Night
Anyone who follows my site already knows I'm a great exponent of the Dummies books. I have dozens of them on a variety of topics, from herbal remedies to writing to history. Sleep Disorders For Dummies has earned a permanent place on my book shelf.This first section gives a thorough overview of the sleep process including what sleep is, why we need to sleep and what happens to our body and mind while we are asleep. There's a deep discussion on the perils of sleep deprivation including driving and on the job accidents.
The final section of Part 1 discusses the symptoms that indicate a sleep problem, where to go for help and what to expect when you get there.
Part 2 - Insomnia
Here we encounter the word "dyssomnia" for the first time. What's a dyssomnia? The simple explanation is "A disturbance in the normal rhythm or pattern of sleep." The most famous of these, according to Sleep Disorders for Dummies, is insomnia. Here you learn things like who gets insomnia, the different types and how it's diagnosed.Everything from prescription drugs to cognitive behavior therapy is covered in the section on treatment. You can learn a lot just from reading the list of really bad methods of self-treatment you should never try.
Another section deals with two other infamous sleep disturbers - RLS (restless legs syndrome) and PLMD (periodic limb movement disorder with discussion on symptoms and possible methods of treatment for both.
Another section talks about secondary insomnia, sleeplessness brought on by other problems including pain, asthma, worry and anxiety and numerous other mental health problems.
The last two sections give excellent suggestions for improving your sleep from good sleep hygiene, bedtime routine and avoiding things that disturb sleep. There's also great tips on adjusting your bedroom so it promotes a better sleep.
Part 3 - Other Dyssomnias
Not as well known and not as common as insomnia, these dyssomnias can also cause sleep problems and sleep deprivation. The first chapter of this section talks about circadian rhythm disorders. This includes jet lag, how you get it, how to prevent it and how to treat it. Shift work can seriously damage the rhythm of the body. there are ways listed here to minimize the damage. Various other disorders are covered as well, including delayed sleep phase syndrome and other less common circadian rhythm disorders.This is also the section where you'll find out about snoring and the disabling disorder, sleep apnea. Never easy to deal with, you'll learn in this section its dangers, how to cope with it, including recognizing the symptoms, getting a proper diagnosis and what treatments are available, including CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure.)
The final section covers hypersomnias (sleep of excessive depth or duration,) including narcolepsy and how to cope with it.
Part 4 - Walking, talking and other parasomnias
We move in this section to the parasomnias (Any of various sleep dysfunctions, such as sleepwalking.) The first section discusses what causes parasomias and how to treat them. These are divided into several categories - arousal disorders, including sleepwalking, sleep-wake transition disorders, including head banging, and sections on teeth grinding and night sweats.The next chapter focuses on the dream world, from night terrors to violent sleep to sleep paralysis. Several lesser known problems are discussed as well.
There's also a section on how to live with parasomnia problem, how to ensure the safety of all concerned and how to adjust to any new routines necessary.
Chapter 14 will be of benefit to the parents in my reading audience. It deals with pediatric sleep problems, including establishing good sleep habits and discerning if your child might be suffering from a sleep disorder. These disorders might include sleep apnea, nightmares, teeth grinding or bedwetting.
