Sleep

Learn more about the benefits of napping

Sleep is essential to a healthy and high-quality life. It can help you achieve mental clarity, fight off illness and maintain a healthy weight. Unfortunately, 20 to 30 percent of people sleep poorly. Even worse, 10 percent of people have chronic insomnia — difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Good sleep [...]

If you’re one of the 90 percent of people in the United States who use an electronic device before bedtime, you might not be getting the quality sleep you need. Many people think scrolling through their social media feed is relaxing. In reality, it makes it harder to fall asleep.

Electronics and sleep: They [...]

Dear Doctors: My husband thinks that sleeping for more than five hours a night is a waste of time. But I just read that not getting enough sleep can predispose to illness. Is this correct? I would love to be able to persuade him that sleep is actually good for [...]

Dear Doctor: I’m leery of sleep drugs, so I’ve been taking the allergy drug diphenhydramine HCL to help me sleep. Now I read that it should be taken only for a limited time. What’s the story on this drug? Diphenhydramine HCL [...]

Dear Readers: When we first began writing this column, we wondered how we would know if it was reaching anyone. The answer came almost immediately, via your letters, all of which are read. It has been heartwarming [...]

Dear Doctors: I’m about to turn 60 and when I spend the afternoon playing with my 7- and 9-year-old grandsons, I’m wiped out. Is there anything that I can do to feel and be more energetic? I want to be an active grandmother and not just sit on the sidelines. [...]

Dear Doctors: We brought our first baby home from the hospital and it seems as though all he does is sleep. Is this normal? How much sleep should a newborn be getting? First, let us reassure you [...]

Dear Doctors: I recently sent my mom an email at midnight, and ever since she’s been after me to stop using my smartphone after bedtime. She insists that the light from the screen interferes with sleep patterns. Is that really true? Dr. Elizabeth Ko and [...]

Dear Doctor: My wife's uncle, who lives with us, is 76 and obese. I have noticed he sleeps an awful lot -- to me, anyway. He sleeps approximately five or six hours a night and then later while sitting on the couch. He frequently takes afternoon naps or will fall [...]