Sleep hygiene Archive

Sleeping in a dark room may do more than improve sleep; it may also benefit heart health. A 2026 study linked nighttime light exposure with harmful changes in heart structure and higher risks of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease.

From facts to skills, sleep helps the brain process what you take in during the day, and cutting it short may affect more than energy.

People who have trouble sleeping may take dietary supplements to ease their insomnia. Melatonin and magnesium, two popular sleep supplements, work in different ways and have varying levels of scientific support.

Women are less likely than men to experience loud snoring or pauses in breathing witnessed by a bed partner, two classic symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, partially or completely blocking the airway.

Caregiving can have physical and mental effects. Explore ways to cope and find support.

Social media influencers blame “high cortisol” for an array of problems, from stubborn belly fat to poor sleep. But true cortisol disorders are rare and most people have no evidence that abnormal cortisol levels are driving such problems.

A small, short-term 2026 study suggests that people who schedule their exercise to align with their chronotype—the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle—may lower their heart risk factors more than those who exercise at times that don’t align with their chronotype.

Sleep comes in two different forms: REM (dreaming) and non‑REM (quiet) sleep. In quiet sleep, your brain shifts from chaotic awake activity into calm, rhythmic waves as if a switch has been flipped. In a healthy night, you glide through three deepening stages of non‑REM (N1, N2, N3 slow‑wave sleep) before diving into vivid REM dreams.

Insomnia is linked to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (afib), a heart rhythm disorder, according to a 2026 study. Insufficient sleep may trigger physiological and hormonal changes that may leave people more susceptible to afib.

Do you wake up tired, struggle to fall asleep, or rely on caffeine to get through the day? Your daily habits may be playing a bigger role in your sleep quality than you realize. This quick quiz will help you evaluate your sleep hygiene from your bedtime routine and screen use to exercise, stress, and sleep environment.