Sleep Medicine

Long‑Term Melatonin Use and Cardiovascular Risk: Emerging Evidence of a Link with Heart Failure

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

Richa Gupta

Dec 28, 20252 min read

The Science of Sleep: Why Your Nightly Rest Matters

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

Apurvasai Lakshmanan

Dec 11, 20252 min read

Spring forward, fall back: daylight saving time and its effects on human health

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

mclapham9

Dec 10, 20254 min read

The Weight of Lost Sleep: An Epidemiological Perspective

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.

Fay

Nov 27, 20255 min read

Sleep: The Body’s Natural Repair and Recharge Cycle

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,

Jovenia Salazar Lindsay

Nov 25, 20257 min read

The hidden power of sleep: how rest shapes your mental health

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

L.Hunter

Oct 21, 20255 min read