Sleep and Your Health

Learn about sleep apnea in the elderly, how often it occurs, and why it may be especially concerning in this group.

Sleep apnea and snoring in children can have serious consequences, including effects on the development of intelligence and growth. Learn more about these adverse consequences and how sleep apnea may cause them.

There are four major classes of headache that can variably interact with sleep. Some may occur exclusively at night and others, such as migraine, may actually be relieved by sleep. In addition, morning headaches may suggest an underlying sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Learn about the interplay between headache and sleep.

Studies have shown that people with obstructive sleep apnea have approximately double the risk of having a stroke as people without sleep apnea. How exactly does sleep apnea increase the risk of stroke?

Sleep deprivation has been shown to be associated with weight gain. How does not getting enough sleep affect your weight? Is it because of eating high calorie foods or caffeinated beverages to stay awake? Or is it that you are simply too tired to exercise? Are there other reasons?

Whether it is you or your loved one who suffers from sleep apnea, it can be a scary experience. It increases the risk of developing numerous serious medical conditions, including: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and many others. It may even lead to sudden death. What scares you the most about sleep apnea?

It may seem innocent enough, but what are the consequences if your child snores?

Learn how you can wake up more beautiful with some simple tips to treat your skin and hair while you sleep.

What are the risks of sleep apnea? Understand what chronic medical conditions may be worsened by untreated sleep apnea and why those who have it may be at risk for heart attacks, stroke, and sudden death.

What is the relationship between sleep deprivation and weight gain? Explore the latest research on this subject and learn how a good night's sleep might actually keep the pounds off.

Explore the resources of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and learn about sleep and sleep disorders.

Explore the fascinating world of sleep disorders on one of the best websites for information, provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Learn how various chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression interact with sleep from the experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Learn about sleep duration as a correlate of smoking, alcohol use, leisure-time physical inactivity, and obesity among adults from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Melatonin occurs naturally as a hormone that helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythms, but what role does melatonin play in aging? Learn whether the sleep hormone may be the long-sought-after fountain of youth.

For some they are a way of a life, a sign of laziness, a rare treat, or a needed break in the afternoon, but what are naps? This common indulgence may be just the thing you need to compensate for a poor night’s sleep or alleviate building sleepiness. Research also suggests it may be an effective way to jump-start your memory and even improve...

Sleep debt is the accumulated amount of sleep loss from insufficient sleep, regardless of cause.

In an unexpected association, sleep seems to have profound effects on children and their ability to grow normally, but how exactly do sleep problems affect growth in children? What sleep disorders might predispose a child to being shorter or to becoming overweight or obese? The answers may surprise you.

Men often wake up with an erection in the morning, but what causes morning wood or morning erections? Discover the cause of this phenomenon.

It may sound unbelievable, but can sleep deprivation actually cause your death? If you are concerned about the ultimate health consequence of sleep loss -- death -- you may also want to be mindful of other increased risks associated with simply not sleeping enough.

In what is a common experience, especially during adolescence or periods of abstinence, wet dreams may occur during our sleep, but what is a wet dream? Learn about wet dreams (or nocturnal emissions), what causes them, and whether they relate to sexual desire or need.

Sleep deprivation is seemingly universal in its occurrence in the modern world, but what are the physical effects of sleep deprivation? There are many important symptoms and even significant impacts on your abilities. In addition, there are a variety of changes that occur in your body if you do not get enough sleep. Discover some of these effects.

Sleep deprivation is common, but what are the side effects of not getting enough sleep? It increases your risk of job errors and accidents, but it may also cause poor concentration, undermine your decision-making, and lead to relationship conflicts. It may even lower your threshold for pain. Learn how sleep deprivation may be affecting you.

Can you sneeze while asleep? Certain body processes seem to be turned off when we go to sleep, but is sneezing one of them? Learn whether it is possible to sneeze during sleep.

Is it possible to fart while asleep? Why is it that people seem to pass gas more first thing in the morning? Learn about flatulence and its relationship to sleep.