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Widely held myths about sleep are damaging our health and our mood, as well as shortening our lives, say researchers. A team at New York University trawled the internet to find the most common claims about a good night’s kip. Then, in a study published in the journal Sleep Health, they matched the claims to […]
Sometimes it feels like no matter what you do before hitting the sheets — whether it’s meditating, turning on a white noise machine or some other soothing activity — it’s still impossible to get good rest. But the truth is, some aspects of your routine earlier in the night may be contributing to the problem. […]
Sinking into bed every night should feel so good that you practically have a mind-body orgasm. Buying a new mattress and pillow on the right schedule is a huge part of creating this kind of sleep haven. But it can be far too easy to put off these purchases until your mattress and pillow are […]
Plenty of scenarios might prompt you to wonder, “How much sleep do I need? No, seriously, exactly how many hours are required for me to be fully functioning but also not spend my whole life in bed?” Maybe this thought arises as you start yet another true crime documentary when you should already be sleeping. […]
Everyone knows that parents lose out on sleep when they have a new baby. For months, you’re a zombie, lucky to clock three hours in a row. After that you limp along, your thoughts constantly consumed by how tired you are, cursing the old pre-baby you for not realizing how good you had it. But […]
Should I wake my newborn for feedings? Answer From Elizabeth LaFleur, R.N. Whether you should wake a sleeping newborn for feedings depends on the baby's age, weight, and overall health. Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. Until your newborn regains this lost weight—usually within one week after birth—it's important to […]
Weekend lie-ins do not make up for being sleep-deprived during the week, a study suggests. Researchers took two groups of healthy people and limited their sleep to no more than five hours a night. One group had their sleep restricted for the whole study, while the other was able to catch up at the weekend. […]
It’s time to reconsider hopping into bed with soaking wet hair. iStock/centralitalliance At the end of a long day, it’s all too easy to take a hot shower, throw on some pajamas, brush your teeth, and then jump into bed. But have you ever stopped to think about the risks of sleeping with wet hair? […]
Indulging in soda Tomophafan/Shutterstock Not only is most soda loaded with sugar, which can spike your blood glucose level—a condition that will not promote sleep. In addition, many varieties are also high in caffeine. That’s a double whammy when it comes to sleep disruption. Studies indicate that caffeine actually binds to receptors in the body […]
Six years ago, as I was sitting in my Native American literature class in college, I found myself doing that thing where your head sort of wobbles around on your neck as you try to stay awake. Every few seconds my head would fall forward and then snap back up. My eyelids felt weighted and […]
Is any urban legend more shudder inducing than the one about humans swallowing an average of eight spiders a year in their sleep? The idea of unwittingly ingesting eight-legged interlopers is viscerally horrifying. But is there any truth to this creepy notion? We spoke to experts on both sides of the science here—human and arachnid—in […]
Pregnancy can make it hard to do a lot of everyday things, including getting the sweet, sweet sleep you know you’re going to miss once your baby arrives. Luckily, figuring out how to sleep when pregnant doesn't have to be impossible. There are a few tweaks you can make—both before you get into bed and […]
A Student Died in His Sleep After Eating Leftover Pasta—Here’s How – Health Top Navigation Close Explore Health Profile Menu Follow us Close Share options Close View image A Student Died in His Sleep After Eating Leftover Pasta—Here’s How this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Let’s […]
Media playback is unsupported on your device We know babies benefit from being rocked to sleep – now a study suggests it helps adults sleep better too. Researchers from the University of Geneva built a special bed that rocked gently throughout the night. They tested it on 18 young adults and found they woke up […]
It's 2 a.m. and your newborn is crying. Will you ever get a good night's sleep again? Although life with a newborn is a round-the-clock adventure, don't lose hope. By ages 3 to 4 months, many babies can sleep at least five hours at a time. At some point during your baby's first year, nighttime […]