sleep library

Fall asleep, stay asleep and find out why it's important to sleep. You can also learn why some people take walks or eat while they sleep.

Featured Article: How Sleepwalking Works

Sleepwalking is an intriguing phenomenon. How can a person be unconscious but still coordinate his or her limbs? And how do we know when we're really awake? See more »

Articles 1-19 of 19

9 Tips to Stop Snoring

Are you trying to stop snoring, or get someone else to stop snoring? Take a look at these 9 tips to stop snoring for help getting peaceful sleep.

Can melatonin help you sleep better?

Sometimes, you just can't sleep. It might be a bad dream or a too-late cup of coffee or a list of worries, but whatever the reason, you're staring at the ceiling, wide awake. Will a melatonin supplement bring you blessed relief?

How are sleep and heart disease related?

Go ahead. Take that power nap. Sleep in on Saturday. Snooze through the "Late Show with David Letterman" for a full eight hours of Zs. It's good for your heart.

How can someone stay awake for 11 days?

A man in Cornwall, England, went 11 consecutive days without a wink of sleep. Find out how he did it, why he did it and why you shouldn't give it a try.

How Dreams Work

Should we bother to interpret our dreams? Are these nighttime stories random brain impulses, or do they offer insight into our waking lives? Learn what's happening in your brain while you dream.

How Lucid Dreaming Works

If you could control your dreams, what would you do? Grow wings and fly, travel to ancient Rome, dine with Marilyn Monroe, open opera season at the Met? It could be possible.

How Sleep Works

Every animal sleeps -- some more than others -- but why they do it is a mystery to scientists. Is sleep more than just beauty rest? Could skimping on it kill you? And how much do you really need?

How Sleepwalking Works

Sleepwalking is an intriguing phenomenon. How can a person be unconscious but still coordinate his or her limbs? And how do we know when we're really awake?

Is a lack of sleep making me fat?

With an ever-increasing number of studies finding a direct connection between sleep deprivation and weight gain, it's difficult to deny the cause-and-effect relationship.

Is science phasing out sleep?

Human beings have always found ways to ward off the effects of sleep deprivation. The newest wake-up pill has all of the benefits of caffeine and amphetamines with none of the down sides.

Is sleep that important?

Let's say the sandman forgets to come by and sprinkle you with some of his slumber dust. How much do you really need that repose?

Sleep Quiz

Some days, there's nothing like a good nap, even if you know it might keep you up into the wee hours of the night. Have you ever pondered the secrets of sleep? Take this quiz to learn all about sleep and those little jumping sheep.

What if I never slept again, ever?

Anyone who has pulled an all-nighter knows that it won't kill you. But what if you pulled an all-nighter every night? What would happen to your body? And could you survive for long?

Why do some people on Ambien eat in their sleep?

One of the top-prescribed sleeping pills may cause you to shuffle out of bed and sleepwalk to the fridge. Could Ambien be making you sleepy and hungry?

Causes of Insomnia

The causes of insomnia are as numerous as the forms it takes. Learn how to combat insomnia arising from medical conditions, jet lag and other causes.

How Sleep Problems Work

There are more than 80 classified sleep problems. Learn about the primary sleep disorders, and how secondary sleep disorders are different.

How to Fall Asleep

How to fall asleep is a complex question that can affect every part of your daily routine. Learn how to hit the sweet spot in your sleep-wake cycle.

What causes snoring and can anything be done about it?

Snoring is not only frustrating for others trying to sleep, but it can also signal heath problems or sleep apnea.

Snoring

Sometimes during sleep a person's airway becomes partially blocked thereby forcing the lungs to inhale with more force -- most of us call it snoring. This animation illustrates what happens inside the body when a person snores.