Sleep Archive

Even people without insomnia can have trouble getting a good night's rest. Many things can interfere with restorative sleep — crazy work schedules, anxiety, trouble putting down the smartphone, even what you eat and drink.

The following three simple steps can help you sleep better.

Your brain will benefit from the heart-healthy steps you take to eat better, exercise more, and stress less.

Philosophers have long pondered the mysteries of heart and mind. Now scientists are working to unravel the flesh-and-blood linkage between the cardiovascular system and the brain. What they are finding is that the recipe for a strong heart is fundamentally the same as that for a sharp mind.

As many as 18 million people in the United States are struggling with this condition.

If a few extra Zs don't relieve your daytime sleepiness now and then, you may be struggling with a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It causes people to stop breathing periodically while they sleep.

Weight loss and breathing-assist therapy are the keys to overcoming this common male ailment.

Nighttime snoring and persistent daytime fatigue are telltale signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this common condition in men, the upper airway pinches closed repeatedly overnight, fragmenting sleep and starving the brain of oxygen.

It's common knowledge that older people have trouble falling asleep, sleep less deeply, and awaken often during the night. But why is that so? A team of researchers may have found an answer deep in the brain. Their study, which will appear in the journal Brain, was published online in August.

A team from Harvard Medical School looked at data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, which enrolled 1,000 healthy 65-year-olds and is following them until their deaths, after which their brains are donated for research. Beginning in 2005, the men and women in the study wore wristbands with motion recorders that enabled the researchers to determine how long and how well they were sleeping.

The key to making those extra years enjoyable and productive is finding healthful activities you can stick with.

Irritability, sadness, or apathy may signal another condition.

Everyone has a bad day now and then. But if you or someone you care about seems sadder, more worried, or more easily agitated these days, it could be a sign of a more serious condition. "Mood-related symptoms can come and go in response to everyday stresses. If they occur for long periods, cause significant distress, or interfere with your daily functioning, it's an indication to seek help," says Dr. Nancy Donovan, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common cause of daytime sleepiness. It occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much during sleep. This lets the tissues around the throat close in and block the airway. People with obstructive sleep apnea can wake up gasping for breath scores of times a night, usually without knowing it. Obstructive sleep apnea can boost blood pressure and increases the risk of stroke. New guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommends an overnight sleep test to diagnose, or rule out, obstructive sleep apnea for individuals with unexplained daytime sleepiness. These are usually done in a sleep center, but home tests can also be done using a portable monitor.

Q. I have been taking a sleeping pill for about a year, and it has helped me get a good night's sleep. My doctor says he does not think it's a good idea for me to continue taking it. I'm worried that if I go off the drug, I won't sleep well. Should I stop?

A. The short answer is yes, you should. Even without knowing what kind of sleeping pill you are taking, I can confidently tell you that there is no sleeping pill intended for long-term use. These drugs can be very helpful for short-term use; that's their intended purpose. But with long-term use, they are more likely to cause side effects and to alter how you sleep.

Don't ignore this important symptom—ask your doctor if you need a sleep study.