From one of the nation’s leading sleep experts comes the ultimate guide to overcoming sleep problems. In The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night's Sleep Dr. Lawrence Epstein reveals his proven, six-step plan to improve your sleep and presents his tips for dealing with issues such as insomnia, disrupted sleep, daytime exhaustion, restlessness, sleepwalking, and other chronic sleep conditions. He also offers you advice for handling jet lag, coping with shift work, and staying awake at the wheel.

Includes index.

pt. I. Understanding the need for sleep -- 1. Good sleep : an essential element of health -- You are not alone -- Poor sleep is a serious problem -- Dramatic improvements in diagnosis and treatment -- Setting realistic expectations -- 2. The ABCs of Zs : what happens during sleep? -- Sleep and brain waves -- Sleep architecture -- The sleep/wake symphony -- The sleep conductor at work -- 3. How much sleep do I need, and what happens if I don't get enough? -- Short, standard, and long sleepers -- Larks and owls -- Types of sleep deprivation -- Sleep as a part of a healthy lifestyle -- Benefits of sleep -- 4. Sleep and age : why can't I sleep the way I used to? -- Childhood -- Adulthood -- From sixty on -- The big picture -- 5. Sleep myths and facts -- You need less sleep as you get older -- Alcohol helps you sleep better -- Snoring is annoying but harmless -- There's something wrong if you don't remember your dreams -- I can get by fine on five or six hours of sleep -- You can learn to get by on less sleep -- Insomniacs barely sleep at all -- Falling asleep during the day is a sign of laziness -- Listening to self-help recordings while you sleep can help you learn -- Napping is a bad habit -- It's possible to get too much sleep -- How I sleep doesn't affect the rest of my health -- 6. How to get a good night's sleep : a six-step plan -- Recognize the importance of sleep -- Adopt A healthy lifestyle -- Maintain good sleep habits -- Create the optimal sleep environment -- Watch out for sleep saboteurs -- Seek help for persistent sleep problems -- pt. II. Sleep disorders and their treatments -- 7. Signs of a sleep problem -- I can't fall asleep -- I can't stay awake -- I can't get up in the morning -- I do strange things in my sleep -- I can't sleep because of my partner -- 8. Insomnia and its behavioral treatments -- Defining and classifying insomnia -- Behavioral treatments for insomnia -- 9. Medications for treating insomnia -- What separates one sleeping pill from another -- Over-the-counter medications -- Prescription medications -- My Perspective on sleep medication -- 10. Alternative insomnia treatments -- Herbal supplements -- Synthetic melatonin -- Acupuncture -- Hot Baths -- 11. Sleep-related breathing disorders : snoring and sleep apnea -- Simple snoring -- Obstructive sleep apnea -- Central sleep apnea -- 12. Movement disorders : restless legs and periodic limb movements -- Restless legs syndrome -- Periodic limb movement disorder -- 13. Narcolepsy -- Causes of narcolepsy? -- Symptoms of narcolepsy -- Diagnosis -- Treatment -- living with narcolepsy -- 14. Parasomnias : sleepwalking and other unusual behaviors -- Deep sleep parasomnias -- REM parasomnias -- Other parasomnias -- 15. Disturbances of sleep timing : DSP and ASP -- Symptoms of delayed and advance sleep phase disorders -- Treatments of DSP and ASP -- 16. Challenging sleep situations : jet leg, shift work, and drowsy driving -- Jet lag -- Shift work -- Drowsy driving -- 17. My child doesn't sleep well, so I don't either -- Newborns and infants -- Toddlers -- Preschoolers -- Young children -- Adolescents -- 18. Diagnosis : what to expect from a sleep doctor and a sleep center -- When should I see a doctor about my sleep? -- Seeing a sleep doctor -- The sleep center -- Getting your diagnosis -- 19. Health conditions and medications that disrupt sleep -- Cardiovascular disease -- Endocrine disorders -- Neurologic disorders -- Respiratory disease -- Mental illness -- Other health problems -- Medications that disturb sleep and wakefulness -- Good night and good luck.