Sleep

Sleep is a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life. It is not known clearly the exact functions of sleep but it seems to be essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by cognitive loss and eventually death.

What is Sleep?

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

Sleep and Yoga

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

What is Sleep Regression?

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Tips on Getting to Sleep

See more featured articles »

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

Brain Activity During Sleep

Hypnotics and Sleep

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

Sleep Hygiene

History of Sleep

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

Neuroscience of Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Management of Sleep Deprivation

Why Do We Dream?

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

Ghrelin and Sleep

Function of Sleep

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Importance of Sleep

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

Regulation of Sleep

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

REM Sleep Activity

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Why Do We Sleep?

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

How Much Sleep do People Need?

Sleep and Hormones

Types of Sleep Disorders

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

Stages of Sleep

Latest Sleep News and Research

$Ten-year study tracks trends in pediatric clavicle fractures across the U.S.$

Ten-year study tracks trends in pediatric clavicle fractures across the U.S.

Clavicular fractures are common injuries among children, usually due to sports-related trauma or accidental falls. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of clavicular fractures among children in the United States between 2014 and 2023.

4 Jul 2025

Teen drivers spend over one fifth of each trip distracted by phones

A new study offers a stark reminder of how pervasive cell phone use while driving is for young people, as findings demonstrate teen drivers spend an average of 21.1% of each trip viewing their mobile behind the wheel.

4 Jul 2025

Are you at risk? Waist size, not weight, could affect fertility in women

Researchers found that higher relative fat mass (RFM), a measure of visceral body fat, is significantly associated with increased infertility risk in U.S. women aged 20–44. The study suggests RFM may be a more sensitive screening tool for infertility risk than traditional BMI, especially in women with normal weight but high visceral fat.

3 Jul 2025

Survey: Many adults unaware of key facts that can help prevent SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, unexplained, sudden death of a child younger than one year old.

3 Jul 2025

Study reveals high rates of distracted driving among teenagers

A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers offers a stark reminder of how pervasive cell phone use while driving is among young people.

3 Jul 2025

Why afternoon sunlight could be keeping your teen awake at night

Bright afternoon and early evening light exposure in adolescents leads to lower melatonin levels and delays circadian rhythms, instead of protecting against evening light effects. Long-term light history, especially morning exposure, may help align adolescent sleep cycles.

2 Jul 2025

Poor lifestyle habits nearly double your chance of developing AFib

A large Framingham Heart Study analysis found that adults with poor cardiovascular health scores on the Life’s Essential 8 were nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as those with ideal scores. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, especially optimal BMI, blood pressure, and glucose, may help reduce AF risk.

2 Jul 2025

Looking for a natural way to lower blood pressure? Whole grains might be the answer

A new meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies found that higher whole grain intake is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing hypertension, with a 26% risk reduction observed between highest and lowest intake groups. In contrast, refined grain consumption showed no clear association with hypertension risk.

2 Jul 2025

Targeting a key enzyme could reverse early Parkinson's effects

Putting the brakes on an enzyme might rescue neurons that are dying due to a type of Parkinson's disease that's caused by a single genetic mutation, according to a new Stanford Medicine-led study conducted in mice.

2 Jul 2025

New brain scan tool predicts aging speed and dementia risk

Any high school reunion is a sharp reminder that some people age more gracefully than others. Some enter their older years still physically spry and mentally sharp. Others start feeling frail or forgetful much earlier in life than expected.

1 Jul 2025

Is lactose intolerance secretly stealing your restful sleep?

Researchers surveyed over 1,000 university students and found that lactose intolerance, especially when accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, is linked to more frequent nightmares and poor sleep. Only a small minority reported that food affected their dreams, highlighting a specific risk for those with food sensitivities.

1 Jul 2025

Why exercise is key for keeping slim after you quit smoking

Quitting smoking is linked to greater long-term waist circumference gain, but this effect may be due to shared genetics rather than quitting itself. Increased physical activity consistently helped limit waist expansion across all genetic backgrounds.

1 Jul 2025

Spaceflight exposes astronauts to hidden threats in their gut

This review highlights how the unique stressors of space travel, radiation, microgravity, and circadian disruption impact astronauts’ gut microbiomes, with potential consequences for their mood, cognition, and immunity. The authors call for targeted microbiome monitoring and dietary interventions to protect astronaut mental health on future missions.

1 Jul 2025

Epilepsy self-management program shows promising results

Epilepsy is among the most common neurological conditions, marked by unpredictable seizures, accidents and injuries, reduced quality of life, stigma and-in the worst case-premature death.

1 Jul 2025

Staying active reduces waist gain after you quit smoking

Investigating smoking cessation and waist circumference, this study highlights the role of leisure-time physical activity in managing abdominal obesity.

1 Jul 2025

N2 deep sleep powers your next aha moment, study reveals

A new study in PLOS Biology shows that deep N2 sleep, rather than light N1 sleep, dramatically boosts the likelihood of “aha” moments in a challenging perceptual task. The researchers also reveal that aperiodic brain activity during sleep best predicts who will gain insight after a nap.

30 Jun 2025

Early therapy for preschool depression shows long lasting benefits

Depression affects 1%-2% of children younger than 13 in the U.S. and can arise as early as age 3, but a specialized therapeutic intervention can help preschool-aged children find relief from this condition - with benefits lasting at least four years, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

27 Jun 2025