Our interest in sleep disorders is relatively new in the history of medicine. The ability to measure physiological events during sleep has led to the recognition of previously unknown sleep disorders. Basic understanding of structure and function of normal sleep has made us realise the importance of sleep on quality of life, health, and survival. A better understanding of sleep disorders has helped us to develop new treatments.
Despite immense advances in the understanding and management of sleep disorders over the last 50 years, many sleep disorders remain under-diagnosed and under-treated. Opportunities for teaching and training in sleep medicine remain limited. Available learning resources for sleep medicine are primarily aimed at sleep specialists, leaving a gap for non-sleep specialists.
This book provides a case-based illustrative approach to the understanding and management of common and important sleep disorders—snoring, sleep disordered breathing, insomnia, circadian-rhythm disorders, and primary neurological sleep disorders. Case histories have been written by sleep medicine experts with clinical experience of providing a multi-disciplinary sleep service. Case examples have been selected direct from sleep clinics and focus on the recognition of presenting features of sleep disorders and their clinical importance. Each case report provides a detailed clinical description followed by a clear explanation of the salient points. The text is supported by photographs, diagrams, and line drawings, and concludes with a list of key learning points. An attempt has been made to write the cases in an easy-flowing prose to simulate the experience of seeing and discussing a real-life patient in a clinic. The book will be of interest to all clinicians who wish to improve their understanding and knowledge of sleep disorders.
I wish to thank my following colleagues for their contribution to Obstructive sleep apnoea and ENT sections of the book: Dr Fionnuala Crummy, Consultant Respiratory Physician, University College London Hospital, London and Mr Rob Nash, Specialist ENT Registrar, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
I also wish to thank Peter Stevenson and Lauren Dunn at the Oxford University Press for their constant support and encouragement, my co-authors for providing excellent case histories, and my secretary, Donna Basire, for checking the manuscript tirelessly.
Himender Makker