Sleep Disorders

Michael H. LeBlond

“Sleep tight and sweet dreams” used to be the phrase used when bidding a family member good night. Unfortunately, a significant number of individuals have difficulty either falling asleep or staying asleep for the 7 to 8 hours recommended by the National Institutes of Health. (However, this is a general recommendation and varies by both age and the individual. For example, infants need on average about 16 hours of sleep per day, teenagers approximately 9 hours, adults the 7 to 8 recommended hours, with older adults requiring about the same as younger adults or up to 9 hours sleep.) Between 50 million and 70 million individuals are impacted by sleep-related problems. This is a serious issue, as sleep is a neurobiological need. The ultimate result of sustained sleep loss can be death. Not only is a significant percentage of the U.S. population impacted by sleep disorders, sleep has also become ...

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