If you're reading this blog post, you're likely part of the 72% of Americans that has researched health information online, whether at work, at home or on a mobile device. According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of online health seekers say they began their last session at a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

Whether you are looking to research your own symptoms or those of a family member; prepare for or follow up after a consultation with your doctor; there is no shortage of information available. If it's a sleep-related health issue that ails you, look no further! We've compiled a list of the best online sleep resources we could find. As the interweb grows, we'll come back and update this post. If you have come across a website that's not on this list, please add it in the comments and we'll put it on the list.

Best Interactive Sleep Website:

Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine: Health Sleep

This website from the prestigious Harvard Medical School is choc full of videos and interactive tutorials explaining everything from why sleep is important, how sleep studies are performed and what the data looks like to how to improve your sleep help. My favorite part is the "What is Sleep" section where you can look at the graphs (actigram and hypnogram) of a newborn baby, elderly man, shift worker, insomnia patient and sleep apnea patient. Very cool!

Best Videos on a Website:

Mayo Clinic

If you're a visual learner, the internet is great for finding videos. These two from the Mayo Clinic are so good I've embedded them on our website (here):

Video: What Happens During Obstuctive Sleep Apnea

Video: How CPAP Controls Sleep Apnea

Funnest Website:

Savethepillows.com

Did you know that your pillows are planning an intervention because they're fed up of listening to you snore?? Silly, but entertaining, this Phillips website (the parent company of sleep apnea therapy device manufacturer Respironics) makes light of a serious issue. Snoring. Snoring not only keeps your pillows (and bed partner) up at night, but can be an indication of a serious sleep disorder. This is a fun, interactive site. It's informative, but not overwhelming. Just turn the speakers down if you're checking it out at work.

Best All-Around Sleep Education Websites:

National Sleep Foundation

Yes, millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea and it's the most-diagnosed disorder in our sleep centers, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY SLEEP DISORDER. Insomnia, narcolepsy, bed wetting, teeth grinding, sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep paralysis, sleep hygiene. The list goes on! This website offers info about ALL of them and answers your questions about healthy sleep. Check it out!

SleepEducation.com

The American Society for Sleep Medicine, a group of sleep specialists and medical doctors trained in identifying and treating sleep disorders, has developed this patient-focused educational resource. 

Please let us know which sites help you the most and help us build the list!

Sleep Well!!