What is sleep, exactly?  It takes up 1/3 of our lives, yet most of us really don't know why it's important. It's necessary for our survival--without sleep, we would die. This is backed up actual human examples and scientific testing. In fact, rats kept without sleep for two or three weeks die just as if they hadn't been given food or water. So what is this process doing for our brains and bodies that is so integral to our health? 

Chronic illness affects more than just the health of the person who lives with it; the economic costs are also significant. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one such illness that affects millions of Americans, many of whom are undiagnosed, untreated, and may not even know they have it. And according to a report from Harvard Medical School, the economic cost of unmanaged OSA in the US is as high as $165 billion.

Does your child toss and turn frequently during the night? Does he or she often wake up with headaches or a dry throat, or exhibit problematic behavior during the day? If so, you might not be aware that your child could be suffering from the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea.

Many parents might never consider that their children have OSA because of the misleading stereotype of a sleep apnea patient as a middle-aged man. In fact, an estimated 2-3% of children suffer from childhood sleep apnea. However, the causes—and, thus, the treatment—for kids can be very different than for adults. Read on to learn how to recognize your child’s symptoms, and what you can do to return them to a peaceful and restful night’s sleep.

It's the end of the day and you're all tucked into bed, but your brain isn't quite ready for sleep just yet. So what do you do? You grab your phone and spend the next 30 minutes checking out social media or reading the news. Although this may seem like a harmless habit, reading on your phone at night--as well as using other electronics in the bedroom--can actually have damaging effects on your sleep habits. 

If you’ve been trying to conceive a child without success, no doubt you’ve heard much advice regarding how to increase your chances: weight control, cutting down on alcohol and caffeine, or using an ovulation calendar, to name a few. But there’s another, frequently overlooked barrier to conception: sleep deprivation or a sleep disorder in either the male or the female. And such disorders are common. Consider the following statistics:

Sleep apnea results in decreased oxygen flow to the body, poor sleep, and an elevated heart rate. It can lead to higher blood sugar levels and increases the risk of serious cardiovascular complications. Do these symptoms sound familiar? Unfortunately, it could be because these factors are also closely related to type 2 diabetes. This connection is not just hypothetical; in fact, a recent study has found evidence linking sleep apnea and heightened risk of diabetes. 

For one of the world’s most powerful women, president and editor in chief of the Huffington Post, “sleeping your way to the top” has taken on a whole new meaning. Arianna Huffington's crusade to improve your sleep is part of what she terms the “third revolution” brought about by women in society.

A few months ago we wrote a post on how electronics in the bedroom can disturb and distract you from your sleep. But now, sleep trackers in phones and health gadgets are offering a way to use technology to monitor and perhaps improve your sleep habits.

That’s right—popular fitness devices like Fitbit and smartphone apps like Sleep Cycle are now providing functions that let you track, not only the number of hours you spend sleeping, but also how restful your slumber is. How useful and accurate are these devices, and how can they be used to improve your nightly routine?

Undoubtedly you've heard your mother or grandmother tell you something along the lines of "Just sleep it off--you'll feel better in the morning." Usually this is in reference to a cold or possibly a stomach bug. But according to an innovative study, this saying could just as well refer to a cigarette addiction. The new study found that sleep conditioning techniques can even aid smokers in kicking the habit for good. 

New Year 2015 is coming up—which means that you’re probably already compiling your list of behaviors that you want to change in the coming year. But what if your New Year’s resolution was a single action that could lead to you feeling more energetic and alert, improving your memory, decreasing your risk for heart disease and other serious conditions, and being able to enjoy a good night’s sleep? That resolution is having a sleep study to test for sleep apnea—and 2015 is the time to finally get the sleep you deserve.