Sleep Disorders Overview 

Although scientists have been investigating the phenomenon of sleep since the beginning of time, it is only recently that we are beginning to realize the importance of sleep in our daily lives and society as a whole. In 1993, the US Congress appointed the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research which has reported a general lack of information and training amongst practitioners with regards sleep disorders which has resulted in the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of patients estimated in the millions. In fact, according to medical journal Sleep (September 1997) 82% of men and 93% of women suffering from sleep apnea remain undiagnosed. The Institute of Circadian Physiology in Boston estimates that sleeping problems are costing American companies $70 billion annually in lost productivity, medical bills, and industrial accidents.

The existence of sleep disorders is undeniable with one third of all Americans experiencing sleep disorders at some point in their lives, yet the majority of cases still go undiagnosed and untreated. In more serious cases sleep disorders require medical intervention. More than 80 sleep disorders have been described, the most common of which are:

We know sleep by heart