Did you know that every night, while you sleep, your body is open for business, running its own repair shop—mending tissues, calming inflammation, and filing away memories. Sleep isn’t just rest; it’s medicine your body prescribes daily.   The Science of Sleep and Healing Sleep is a dynamic biological process, not simply a pause in activity. During deep stages of non‑REM sleep, growth hormone surges, fueling the repair of muscles, tissues, and even blood vessels. This nightly

So here we are again; it's past midnight, your mind is racing because you have some client emails to respond to, you're worried about tomorrow's deadlines, or you just can't fall asleep. A partially consumed cup of coffee, an open laptop, and the dim glow of your phone are all around you like familiar friends. You're browsing Instagram for "healthy bedtime routines," "sleep hacks," or guided meditations, all of which promise relaxation, restful sleep, and possibly even energy

by Stephen Beesley, PhD During my teens and early twenties, I became progressively aware that I was waking up more fatigued than when I initially went to sleep. It would take me the majority of the first waking hour to finally feel 'awake'. Having completed my graduate studies in circadian biology, I considered myself relatively well educated on matters concerning sleep, yet I was ignorant of sleep apnea and its impact on day-to-day life. It wasn't until my mid-30s and after

Introduction: When Sleep Takes Over “Just wake up.” It sounds simple. For most people, sleep is something we enter and exit every day without thinking. But for individuals with Kleine–Levin Syndrome (KLS), waking up is not always possible. Sleep becomes an overpowering neurological state, one that can consume weeks, distort reality, and erase time. Often referred to as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, KLS is a rare neurological disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to regulat

Image Credit: Shutterstock What is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)? The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a short questionnaire that estimates how likely someone is to fall asleep during daily activities. It can indicate daytime sleepiness and help healthcare providers diagnose conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, or other sleep-related issues. It is also simple, only taking a few minutes and not needing any preparation. Everyday Scenarios the ESS Can Look At Instead of

Introduction We all live in hectic times and its natural to feel tired after a long day's work. But if youre feeling tired all the time - like after a good night's sleep or minimal work, then maybe there's an underlying condition that people often overlook - iron deficiency. People brush off fatigue as stress or blame it on a bad sleep the previous night. But the cause is probably hidden deeper in your blood. Iron deficiency is a very common issue all over the world; and fati

In many high schools today, an underlying but persistent issue has been spreading through classrooms and hallways: chronic exhaustion. Students often mention late nights, heavy workloads, and restless sleep almost casually, as if constant fatigue has become an expected part of being a teenager. What once might have been an occasional lapse in rest now appears to be a daily reality for many. As reports from educators and healthcare professionals continue to highlight the rise

While melatonin is widely considered a benign over-the-counter sleep aid, a recent large observational study suggests that chronic use (≥12 months) may be associated with a significantly increased risk of incident heart failure, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with insomnia. These findings—presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2025—raise important questions about the long-term cardiovascular safety of melatonin. Given the study’s obs

Sleep is a universal human experience, yet many people underestimate its importance. Understanding the science of sleep reveals how it supports memory, mood, metabolism, and overall health. This article explores the stages of sleep, common disruptors, and practical strategies to improve nightly rest. Sleep Architecture: How the Night Unfolds Sleep stages: Sleep cycles through non-REM (N1, N2, N3) and REM stages multiple times per night. N1: Light sleep as you drift from wakef

a person dressed in red, rushing by a wall of clocks; photo courtesy of Unsplash Daylight saving time begins in March and ends in November; learn how to protect your health and well-being despite the twice-yearly time change.   What is daylight savings time? The first Sunday in November traditionally marks the end of daylight-saving time. In the United States, clocks are turned back one hour to standard time. This change results in a gain of an hour of daylight at the start o

Epidemiology of sleep Sleep is a periodic, reversible state of rest that is not easily interrupted by the outside world and is widespread in all multicellular animals, suggesting that it serves an important biological function. If sleep were not beneficial, natural selection would have eliminated it long ago. Its necessity is also reflected in the “homeostatic drive for sleep”: similar to hunger or thirst, the longer the absence of sleep, the stronger the urge to fall asleep.

By: Jovenia Salazar Lindsay, RN, MSN, MBA, PhD Candidate  Introduction I had often wondered why my late father, who was extremely insistent that we, his children, go to bed early and rise early each morning, while other children in our community played late into the night. However, this was a habit he firmly impressed upon us. My father had many reasons. One was that bad elements generally were known to occur at night, and retiring early was a way to keep oneself safe. Two,

We all know sleep is important. However, lately, science is proving just how crucial it is, and not just for our physical health but for our mental wellbeing too. Sleep isn't just about resting, it’s when your brain does some serious work behind the scenes. If you're not getting enough sleep, your mind can really start to feel the effects. What happens while you sleep? When we sleep, our brain goes through different stages, with two major phases: REM sleep (where we dream) an

Diagram illustrating the mechanism and potential benefits of mouth taping in obstructive sleep apnea, including improved nasal breathing,...

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Break that bad habit of doomscrolling before bed. As an increasingly technology-reliant society, cell phones are the must-have companion...

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If you're on TikTok, I think you've heard or come across the term “bedrotting.” In reality, bedrotting reflects an emerging trend that...

​​Do you wake up feeling exhausted no matter how long you sleep? Have people told you that you snore loudly or gasp for air at night? If...