Let's Talk about Sleep: A Guide to Understanding and Improving Your Slumber

(Hardback)

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News 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 dont 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.

Reviews

Thorough and informative, Barones book invites readers to get a better nights 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, everyones 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 theres no single answer that will work for everyone. His most consistent suggestion is to improve sleep hygiene, meaning a persons 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 Barones 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 Barones considerate tone, will put many readers minds to rest. * Publishers Weekly *
A good nights 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 *
Lets 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 Lets 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

Author Bio

Daniel A. Barone, MD, is currently the Associate Medical Directer at Weill Cornell Medical College and is an Assistant Attending Neurologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He primarily sees patients at the Weill Cornell Medical College Center for Sleep Medicine where he specializes in the evaluation and management of patients with all forms of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, insomnia and narcolepsy. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Sleep Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Barone is frequently featured in the media. He has appeared on CBS News, New York 1, and on Discovery Channels popular Deadliest Catch: The Bait as an expert in sleep disorders. He has been quoted in articles in Readers Digest, Prevention, New York Daily News, Allure, and Healthline, and many other publications. Dr. Barone regularly gives talks to the community on sleep health and has been a contributor on a variety of sleep health-related websites. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles on all forms of sleep disorders and is involved in several research projects. Since Lawrence A. Armour left Time Inc. in August, 2015, he has built a freelance writing and editing business focused on magazines, newspapers, corporations and individual authors. Armour spent 20 years in various positions at Time Inc. Prior to that he worked in communications at IBM, American Express and Dow Jones. He began his career at Barrons, first as a reporter and then as an associate editor and columnist. Armours first book, Profits on Wall Street, was followed by three others published by Dow Jones: Investing For Profit, How To Survive A Bear Market and Managing To Succeed. Other books include The Young Millionaires How To Make Your Money Make Money, written with Arthur Levitt, Jr. and The Real Age Workout, written with Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Tracy Hafen.