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.

How Morning Routines Influence Cognitive Performance, Mood, and Circadian Rhythm

How simple, evidence-based morning habits recalibrate the circadian system to sharpen cognition, stabilize mood, and support long-term mental health.

Sleep and Yoga

History of Sleep

The Health Risks of Oversleeping

Brain Activity During Sleep

Why Do We Sleep?

Ghrelin and Sleep

Why Do We Dream?

Importance of Sleep

Does Your Alarm Sound Affect Your Mood?

Could Humans Ever Hibernate?

Can too much sleep be dangerous?

See more featured articles »

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

How Much Sleep do People Need?

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD)?

Stages of Sleep

Sleep Onset Mechanics: Understanding the Transition from Wakefulness to Slumber

How to Catch up on Lost Sleep

Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

Effect of Sleep on Your Emotions

A Guide to Healthy Sleep Positions

Regulation of Sleep

Tips on Getting to Sleep

Sleep Hygiene

How Does Sleep Affect Your Immunity?

Neuroscience of Sleep

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

What is Sleep Regression?

Causes of Nocturnal Awakenings

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

Sleep and Hormones

What is the Role of Melatonin in Sleep Regulation?

Management of Sleep Deprivation

The Importance of Having a Good Night’s Sleep

How Can Mindfulness Meditation Improve Sleep?

Spoon Test for Sleep Deprivation

How Long Should My Teenager Sleep For?

Function of Sleep

Sleep Deprivation - Inadequate Quantity of Sleep

Causes of Sleep Deprivation

A Guide to Managing Sleep Disorders

Is Daytime Napping in Adults Good or Bad?

How Can Sleep Affect Men's Health?

Health Effects of Poor Sleep - Quantity and Quality

Types of Sleep Disorders

Difference Between Nightmares and Night Terrors

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) Management

What Does Polysomnography Involve?

REM Sleep Activity

Hypnotics and Sleep

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

How Does Pain Affect Your Sleep?

The DEC2 Gene and Sleep

Stimulants and Sleep

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Nutritional Effects on Sleep

What is Sleep?

How Long should my Child Sleep for?

Latest Sleep News and Research

Systematic review identifies stress-induced biological triggers in oncology

Stress is a constant companion in the oncologist's office. It appears at the time of diagnosis, increases with each stage of treatment, and often does not resolve even after therapy formally ends. It accompanies therapeutic decisions, waiting for test results, fear of recurrence, and changes in daily functioning. Studies show that chronic stress can trigger biological processes that promote disease progression and weaken the body's defenses.

25 Mar 2026

Immersive dreams may shape perception of sleep quality and depth

Researchers led by Guilio Bernardi at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy have discovered a key relationship between dreaming and the feeling of having had a good night's sleep.

24 Mar 2026

Small, combined improvements to sleep, diet and physical activity may yield major heart benefits

New research shows that small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination, are associated with a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attacks, and heart failure.

24 Mar 2026

Excessive screen time linked to worse cardiovascular risk factors

People who reported spending six or more hours on screens outside of school or work had worse blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) compared with those with more limited screen time, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

24 Mar 2026

Transportation noise linked to higher risk of major cardiac events

Living in areas with consistently higher levels of noise from transportation was associated with a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiac events compared with living in quieter areas, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

24 Mar 2026

New cholesterol guidelines emphasize earlier risk assessment and prevention

New national guidance for managing cholesterol and other blood lipids emphasizes earlier risk assessment, more personalized treatment, and long-term prevention—including, in some cases, treatment beginning as early as age 30.

23 Mar 2026

Study highlights neurological and psychiatric impacts of long COVID

Nearly three years after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was declared over, conservative estimates suggest that between 80 million and 400 million people worldwide have long COVID.

23 Mar 2026

Rest tremor in Parkinson’s linked to better-preserved dopamine function

A Finnish clinical imaging study shows that rest tremor in Parkinson's disease is not explained by greater dopamine loss.

23 Mar 2026

Chronotherapy offers new hope for timing pain relief to match body cycles

Time plays a key role in our perception of pain and administering pain relief and medication for chronic pain-related depression may be more effective at certain times of day, UCL and University of Toronto researchers say.

23 Mar 2026

Replacing sedentary time improves insulin resistance in adolescents

Adolescents who replaced just half an hour of sedentary behaviors, such as sitting on the couch or spending time at the computer, each day for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or sleep may lower their insulin resistance, a key factor in preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026.

23 Mar 2026

AI diet plans underestimate teen nutrition and miss key nutrients

AI tools for adolescent diet planning may fall short, consistently underestimating nutrient intake and energy needs compared to individualized dietitian plans.

20 Mar 2026

Balancing sitting and movement may lower the risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

During pregnancy, women can reduce their risk of developing a hypertensive disorder by nearly 30% by limiting sedentary time to no more than eight hours a day and increasing light, everyday physical activity to at least seven hours a day, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026.

19 Mar 2026

Brain age from sleep patterns may signal future dementia risk

A machine-learning analysis of brain waves recorded during sleep may help identify people at high risk of developing dementia, according to a study led by UC San Francisco and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

19 Mar 2026

Hydration programs found insufficient to reduce kidney stone recurrence

Kidney stones can cause some of the most intense pain people ever experience, affecting daily life and leading many to hospital emergency visits.

19 Mar 2026

Early morning workouts may improve cardiometabolic health

People who regularly exercised early in the morning were significantly less likely to have coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or obesity compared with people who exercised later in the day, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

19 Mar 2026

Menopause may raise women’s Alzheimer risk earlier than doctors once thought

This review argues that women’s higher Alzheimer disease risk may be shaped in part by midlife neuroendocrine aging, especially the menopause transition, rather than by longevity alone. It highlights early menopause, bilateral oophorectomy, vasomotor symptoms, and midlife cognitive changes as underinvestigated but potentially important risk markers, while calling for sex-specific, biomarker-driven prevention strategies.

18 Mar 2026

Better cardiovascular health scores linked to lower mortality in postmenopausal women

Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Life's Crucial 9 (LC9) from the American Heart Association are industry-accepted metrics that summarize overall cardiovascular health.

18 Mar 2026

Burnout crisis demands science-based strategies beyond self-care solutions

Burnout is at an all-time high, with some studies saying two-thirds of employees now cite job burnout as a major challenge.

18 Mar 2026

More US adolescents are obese but fewer are trying to lose weight

The rising obesity rates in American adolescents, coupled with declining weight-loss efforts, signal urgent needs for targeted public health interventions.

18 Mar 2026

Breakfast, exercise, and sleep linked to better mental resilience

Do you ever feel mentally stuck, like you can't cope when a stressful situation hits? A healthy breakfast, exercise, and a good night's sleep might be just what you need to build psychological flexibility, and new research from Binghamton University shows why that matters.

17 Mar 2026