Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for your brain health, mood, physical health, and overall wellbeing. In fact, not getting enough sleep or having poor sleep hygiene can increase your risk of a number diseases and disorders. Find out how to prioritize sleep and improve sleep quality.

Sleep Basics

A man in bed with an alarm in the nightstand next to him
How Much Deep Sleep Do You Need?

Medications and Supplements

Melatonin-Use-GettyImages-117375757
More Americans Are Taking Melatonin Than Ever Before—Despite Potential Health Risks
Person taking melatonin supplement pill before bed.
Can You Take Melatonin Every Night?
Person asleep in their bed.
Should You Take Magnesium for Sleep?

Tips for Improved Sleep

Woman taking deep breaths sitting in bed
The Simple 4-7-8 Breathing Technique Can Help You Relax and Sleep Better—Here's Why
A woman sits in bed and reads a book in a dark bedroom.
9 Reasons Why You Can't Sleep and What To Do About It
Person on their phone in bed at night.
Why Can't I Sleep? 15 Remedies To Try

Explore Sleep

A young woman in warm clothing sleeping in a cold room
Does Sleeping in a Cold Room Improve Sleep Quality? What To Know
Female Getting Good Rest With The Help Of Sleeping Mask And Ear Plugs
I Hired a Sleep Coach—These Are the 4 Biggest Sleep Mistakes I Was Making
Young white woman with blonde hair sleeping on her stomach in a bed with cream-colored bedding. Her back is visible and bare
Why You Should Sleep Naked Tonight: 11 Benefits
child sleeping
Are Your Kids' Melatonin Supplements Safe? FDA Study Raises Concerns Over Mislabeled Doses
A hand turning off an alarm clock, adjusting to daylight savings time
The 10 Best Ways To Adjust to Daylight Savings Time, According To Sleep Experts
woman lying awake from insomnia
4 Things Sleep Medicine Experts Do When They Just Can’t Stop Tossing and Turning
Black man sleeping in bed during the day, light streaming in from the window. A digital alarm clock displays the time 6:23.
Is Biphasic Sleep a Healthy Sleep Option?
Young black woman wearing a gray tank top is lying in bed (gray sheets and bedding). She is on her back, awake and looking up. A smartphone sits on a pillow beside her, showing an alarm icon.
What Causes Trouble Sleeping?
Woman sleeping with eye mask
Can Sleeping In on the Weekends Protect Your Heart Health? Here's What New Research Says
Person woken up from hypnic jerk (sleep start)
What Causes Hypnic Jerks (Sleep Starts)?
A woman sets her smartwatch to monitor sleeping patterns.
Can Sleeping in 90-Minute Increments Really Help You Feel More Alert?
A woman doing squats in her living room.
Want to Get More Sleep? Study Suggests Brief Bursts of Nightly Squats May Help
Woman sleeping on her back
Your Guide To Restful Sleep: Choosing the Best Sleep Position for Your Health
Asian woman wearing white over-ear headphones at home, looking happy and relaxed
How To Use Binaural Beats To Improve Your Mood and Creativity
Woman sleeping
The Ultimate Guide to Sleep Sounds: Pink Noise, Brown Noise, and White Noise, Explained
Senior Asian man sleeping with one hand on his chin and his arm across his forehead.
Good Sleep Habits May Offset Some Genetic Risks for Heart Disease, Study Finds
young Asian woman in bed turning off alarm clock
What Is Polyphasic Sleep?
A woman closes her eyes with her head back as she sits on the floor with her laptop and a cup of coffee
7 Possible Reasons You're So Tired—and What to Do About It
man wearing CPAP machine in bed
Sleeping Fewer Than 7 Hours Each Night Linked to Higher Mortality Risk in People With Sleep Apnea
Black woman with afro wearing grey tshirt asleep in bed with white bedding; plant behind her in the background
5 Foods To Help You Sleep
senior man looking at sleep data
What Sleep Trackers Can (and Can't) Tell You About Your Sleeping Habits
man falling asleep at his desk
What Is Sleep Debt?
A man sleeps on his side with his mouth open
Why You Drool In Your Sleep—and How To Stop It
man shopping for energy drinks
Study: Even the Occasional Energy Drink Can Increase the Risk of Sleep Disturbances
Health Photo Composite - Sleep Inertia
What Is Sleep Inertia—and How Can You Overcome the Grogginess?
White woman with brown hair wearing gray pajamas in bed with wood headboard and white sheets; yawning with eyes closed
What Is Sleep Talking?
Woman taking pills before bed
Can Taking Magnesium and Melatonin Together Help You Sleep Better?
The Ask Health template with the headline Can Staying Off Your Phone Before Bed Improve Sleep and a picture of a phone on a bed
Ask Health: Can Staying Off Your Phone Before Bed Improve Sleep?
cocktail with cherry juice
The 'Sleepy Girl Mocktail' Claims to Help You Fall Asleep—But Does It Work?
woman sleeping with pet dog
Should You Let Your Pets Sleep in Bed With You? Here's What Experts Have to Say
Top view above of a young casual woman in headphones sleeping with gadgets in their hands on cozy sofa in living room keeping eyes closed
Fatigue: Everything You Need to Know
Woman sleeping peacefully
Sleep Regularity More Important than Sleep Duration, Study Finds
Person drinking tart cherry juice.
Does Tart Cherry Juice Really Help With Sleep?
Woman lying in bed looking distressed
Why Do You Sweat in Your Sleep? 11 Possible Causes
Older man sleeping
Popular Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs May Also Help Alleviate Sleep Apnea Symptoms
A man is tired as he puts his hands to his face and sits at a computer at nighttime
How Long Can You Go Without Sleep Before Feeling the Effects?
Man sleeping
'Cricketing': Why Rubbing Your Feet Together in Bed Might Help You Fall Asleep
Sleep Awards 2023
Sleep Awards 2023: The Top 36 Products For Better Sleep
Young Black man sitting up in bed holding the back on his neck and grimacing
Neck Pain From Sleeping Wrong? Here's How to Relieve It
Young woman jogging in winter
How to Adjust Your Body to Darker Days, According to Experts
Health Overview Illustrations - Sleep Apnea
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Young woman sleeping on her stomach in an all-white bed
Is It Bad to Sleep on Your Stomach?
Man snoozing his alarm
Hitting the Snooze Button Might Not Be a Bad Morning Habit After All, Study Says
A woman lies in bed awake in the middle of the night as she looks at her clock
What Is Sleep Anxiety—And How Can You Cope With It?
Woman using her phone in bed
People Who Stay Up Late May Have a Greater Risk of Diabetes, Study Finds
Female night nurse at computer
Study: Shift Work May Impair Cognitive Function
sleep-temperature summer heat woman health fan AC air-conditioner sleep
What's the Best Temperature for Sleeping?
young woman sleeping with sleep tracker
Thinking You Slept Well Might Matter More for Your Mood Than What Your Tracker Says
A black man taking a power nap on a couch with a book on his chest
How To Take The Best Power Nap
Health Photo Composite - Sleep
Here's How to Get the Sleep Amount—and Quality—You Need
Circadian rhythm - Worried person in bed staying awake late at night
What Is Circadian Rhythm?
young woman falling asleep fast
10 Ways To Fall Asleep Fast
Woman pouring coffee to stay awake
Need to Stay Awake? Try These 9 Tips
Woman laying awake at night
Not Getting Enough Sleep Might Cancel Out Some Benefits You Get From Exercise
Man taking a nap on the couch
This Is How Long You Should Nap for Optimal Brain Health
middle aged woman sleeping with cpap machine for sleep apnea
Having Sleep Apnea Also Boosts Your Risk of Developing Long COVID, Study Shows
Woman holding gummy vitamins
Study: Melatonin Gummies May Contain Higher Doses Than What's on the Label
man lying in bed reaching to stop alarm clock
What Really Happens to Your Body When You Hit Snooze?
Man doing a plank
Study: Regular Exercise May Protect Against Side Effects of Poor Sleep
man working in bed at night
Postponing Bedtime By Just 34 Minutes Could Increase Your Risk of High Blood Pressure
woman turning off phone alarm in morning light
Is Daylight Saving Time Ending? How the Sunshine Protection Act Could Impact Health
Woman sleeping
Study: Too Little or Too Much Sleep May Increase Your Chance of Infection
two people looking at tiktok on phone
Is Mouth Taping Dangerous? Why Experts Warn Against Trying TikTok's Latest Trend