Foreword

Sleep, and its disorders, have long been the Rodney Dangerfield of Medicine and Public Health—they just don’t get any respect. Perhaps this is because sleep advocates have lumped all “sleep disorders” together in describing their risks. Clinicians and the public at large have been justifiably skeptical that “sleep disorders,” which could be anything from tooth grinding to head banging to nocturnal eating, are dangerous. Sleep & Safety, by focusing primarily on sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm asynchronies, and sleep-disordered breathing, focuses on the data and avoids hype and speculation. And the data is scare us indeed. This terse, well-written e-book first lays the physiologic groundwork for the effects of sleep deprivation, shift work, and sleep-disordered breathing and then critically reviews the data about their adverse effects. An important element of this electronic volume is its emphasis not only on the risks to the afflicted individual, but also to those on the road, in the plane, in the ranks, or under the knife with him or her. Sleep & Safety brings home the message that sleep loss, sleep apnea, and shift work are public health issues.