THE HEALING POWER OF SLEEP

Course overview

Insomnia is one of the most frequently encountered problems in everyday clinical practice. Troublesome in its own right, insomnia can exacerbate virtually any illness, and almost any illness can aggravate insomnia. Depressed individuals often wake up at 3 or 4am and find that they cannot get back to sleep. Anxious individuals often struggle to fall asleep, tossing and turning for hours. However, research now indicates that insomnia can increase the risk of developing both depression and anxiety disorders. Given similar situations with conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, immune dysfunction, dementia and obesity, good patient care requires that all healthcare professionals understand and address the clinical impact of sleep. This course, in book form, is designed to shed light on the clinical consequences and correlates of insomnia and various sleep disorders. Topics include insights into basic sleep architecture; the effects of everyday stress and major life events on sleep architecture, how medications can compromise sleep and how acute and chronic illness leads to insomnia. The course also reviews common sleep disorders, appropriate use of sleep medication and strategies to foster healthy sleep habits. By understanding and applying the practical principles of good sleep medicine, clinicians in any discipline will be better equipped to help an ever growing and frustrated group of patients.