Improving sleep isn’t just about getting comfy in bed. It’s also about training our brains to connect the bed with sleep. That’s what stimulus control, a component of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, is all about. By having a consistent and predictable schedule and avoiding activities like watching TV or scrolling through your phone in bed, you’re reinforcing the idea that your bed is meant for sleep, which can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It’s a simple but effective way to improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. Here are five easy tips to help you i ..read more

A sleep study, also known as polysomnography, monitors your breathing, heart rate, body movements and brain waves while you sleep. This is performed in a specialized setting with a trained sleep technologist who is monitoring all of these aspects while ensuring your safety and comfort. Your doctor performs a thorough assessment of your sleep complaints and if they feel further testing is required, orders a sleep study. This helps to correctly diagnose sleep disorders that you might have. On the day of the study, you will be asked to arrive at the sleep center in the evening with the intention ..read more

Jet lag — it’s the unwelcome guest that often accompanies long-distance travel, leaving us feeling disoriented and fatigued. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, understanding how to mitigate jet lag’s effects is essential for a successful trip. Understanding jet lag Jet lag is a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder. It occurs when rapid travel across multiple time zones disrupts our internal body clock. Our circadian rhythms, synchronized by cues such as daylight and darkness, regulate our sleep-wake cycle, ensuring we feel alert during the day and sle ..read more

Submissions are now being accepted for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s 2024 “Sleep for Success” High School Video Contest. Entrants will compete for a cash prize and raise awareness about the importance of sleep for teens and how proper sleep leads to better overall health, performance, and safety. High school students can enter the contest by submitting an original video that ranges from 30 to 90 seconds long to help teens understand why sleep is important to their success either in school, health, safety, sports, relationships, or another area. The video should focus on one asp ..read more

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for our overall well-being. Did you know it can also play a role in helping you quit drinking alcohol? Learn how sleep can impact your efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle. The link between sleep and alcohol use Research studies indicate a bidirectional relationship between sleep and alcohol. This means that poor sleep can contribute to increased alcohol use, while excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt sleep patterns. It becomes a cycle where one negatively influences the other. Sleep deprivation and alcohol cravings A lack of quality sleep can lead ..read more

The nonprofit organization Project Sleep recently introduced The Sleep Helpline™, a national helpline to guide you through sleep-related challenges. Let’s explore what the Sleep Helpline offers and how it can assist you. What is the Sleep Helpline? The Sleep Helpline is a professionally staffed helpline providing free, personalized, confidential support and resources for people facing sleep issues and sleep disorders. It is run by Project Sleep, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about sleep health, sleep equity and sleep disorders. The helpline is funded by dono ..read more

Pregnancy affects many aspects of a woman’s body, including sleep. Hormonal fluctuations, physical transformations, and the inherent stresses of pregnancy can alter both the duration and quality of sleep. While most sleep disturbances are reversible post-delivery, some sleep changes may indicate underlying sleep disorders. Sleep changes by trimester During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes various changes that can disrupt sleep. In fact, according to one survey, 97% of pregnant women reported symptoms of disrupted sleep. The first trimester may bring increased sleepiness, accompanied by disr ..read more

In the quest for a healthier heart, have you considered the role your sleep plays? The American Heart Association has, and that’s why it introduced the Cardiovascular Health & Sleep Initiative. This new campaign is shedding light on the connection between sleep and heart health. This initiative will help you understand the potential cardiovascular risks associated with sleep disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia aren’t just restless night companions—they may also be linked to heart arrhythmias, plaque buildup, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Understanding these connect ..read more

In September, Student Sleep Health Week is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of healthy sleep for students of all ages to learn, grow and thrive. This year, sleep experts engaged with the Reddit community to provide insights into fostering healthy sleep patterns in children and teens. Several sleep experts participated in an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session on Reddit. Seema Khosla, MD; David Kuhlmann, MD; Shalini Paruthi, MD; and Susheel Pandit Patil, MD, PhD, collectively received an impressive response of more than 1.7 thousand comments. Continue reading to see a few questio ..read more

Sleep paralysis is an intriguing and often unnerving phenomenon. Defined as a temporary inability to move or speak while transitioning between sleep and wakefulness, sleep paralysis can be accompanied by vivid hallucinations and a sense of “impending doom.” Explore the lesser-known aspects of sleep paralysis, including its causes, prevalence, cultural interpretations, and potential remedies. 7 little-known facts about sleep paralysis 1. Sleep paralysis is more common than you might expect. Research suggests that around 8% of the general population experiences sleep paralysis at some point in t ..read more