Insomnia is the most well-known problem, but others, like obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and narcolepsy, which too can be life-threatening, are coming to light, thanks to a new breed of clinicians who practice sleep medicine. The good news is that most sleep disorders are entirely treatable. The bad news: most of us, including doctors, are unaware such problems even exist.
It’s chilling to think of the impact of sleep deprivation on people in whose hands we routinely place our lives—pilots, doctors, air traffic controllers, drivers or policemen. In fact, industrial catastrophes like Bhopal and Chernobyl have happened because of errors on part of their sleep-deprived staff.
Sleep disorders also hurt their victims personally and...
