Humana Sleep Disorders in Women: From Menarche Through Pregnancy to Menopause: A Guide for Practical Management (Current Clinical Neurology)

Increasing attention is currently being directed to a variety of health disorders that are either unique to or more common among women than men. This volume adds sleep disorders to the list of those in which important gender differences have been neglected. Sleep Disorders in Women: A Guide to Practical Management - plores the reasons for gender bias in this area of research and provides a comp- hensive and in-depth review of what is currently known and what still remains to be studied concerning this important topic. As several contributors to this volume indicate, numerous misconceptions exist due, not surprisingly, to a shortage of reliable data in the field. As an example, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is typically thought to be far more common in men than in women. However, as contributors to this volume carefully document, the prevalence of OSA in women varies considerably depending on the specific female population that is studied. It is low in premenopausal women, higher in postme- pausal women, particularly high in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and of uncertain prevalence in pregnancy. This exemplifies the fact that as women move through varying hormonal environments including puberty, the menstrual cycle, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause, their risk for a variety of sleep disorders varies considerably. As pointed out in Dr. From the Back Cover It is now well recognized that many health disorders are either unique to or more common among women than men. In Sleep Disorders in Women: A Guide to Practical Management, a multidisciplinary panel of eminent researchers and practicing clinicians comprehensively explores all aspects of sleep disorders in women at different stages of life, illuminating the unique impact that each reproductive and endocrine stage has on both normal sleep and sleep disorders. The authors-gynecologists, neurologists, pulmonologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, physician assistants, and psychologists-share their expert knowledge and experience in treating insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea in adolescent, premenopausal, pregnant, and menopausal patients. Less commonly appreciated circadian rhythm disorders in adolescents such as delayed sleep phase syndrome and insomnia are also addressed. In addition to summarizing the latest, cutting-edge research in a succinct and clinically relevant manner, the authors also help physicians recognize the symptom patterns of sleep disorders in their female patients and offer guidance on diagnosing and treating them in a timely fashion. Introductory chapters provide essential background information on the epidemiology of sleep disorders in women, how to workup female patients with sleep complaints, and the impact of the life cycle on sleep in women. Authoritative and clinically oriented, Sleep Disorders in Women: A Guide to Practical Management clarifies for today's busy clinicians the complexities of sleep physiology and sleep pathophysiology in women, so that they can more easily make accurate diagnoses and offer optimal treatments.