Sleep Disorders Medical Reference

A good pillow can make or break your night’s sleep. Discover the pros and cons of memory foam pillows, which can help support your neck and improve sleep quality.

Do you wake up with a stiff neck? You may feel better and sleep better with a neck pillow, or cervical pillow. Here’s why the right neck support can help reduce pain and improve your sleep.

Should you buy a weighted blanket to treat anxiety, stress, insomnia, or ADHD? There’s mixed evidence on whether or not these heavy blankets really calm your nerves or help you sleep, and they aren’t cheap. Find out what to look for as you shop for a weighted blanket and who shouldn’t use them at all.

Do you sleep on your stomach? Then you’ll want to find out about the types of pillows that may be best for your bed.

It takes a lot of energy to stay awake. Good quality deep sleep can help you recover. This sleep phase also strengthens your memories and your immune system. And research shows it may help clear out toxins from your brain.

From a lower, slower heart rate and breathing to creating memories and helping you learn, how does deep sleep affect your body?

Sleep problems and type 2 diabetes go hand-in-hand. Here's how.

Experts aren’t sure which comes first. Most likely, bad sleep and dementia affect each other. Learn how that might happen.

Regularly losing sleep can have an impact on how much you weigh. Too little sleep can make you eat more, exercise less, and lead to obesity.

Research links sleep loss to serious conditions like heart disease and heart attacks. Learn the connection between heart health and sleep and how you can get a better night’s rest.

Did you know that lack of sleep can affect your immune system and make you sick? Here's what you need to know to keep illness at bay.

Shopping for a new pillow? Use these tips to help find one that’s good for people who sleep on their side.

Got neck pain? Use these tips to help find a pillow that will be comfortable.

Blue light has a powerful effect on your body clock, called your circadian rhythm. Learn how it can prevent your body from falling asleep and what you can do about it.

Body pillows are pillows for your whole body, not just your neck. Find out why you might want to get one, and get tips on shopping.

You may not remember your dreams most of the time, but some people can have very vivid dreams and even control their actions in them. This phenomenon, lucid dreaming, isn’t uncommon. We explain what causes lucid dreams, the research around them, and how you can potentially teach yourself to have them.

Melatonin can help with sleep problems. Make sure you take it the right way to get the most out of it.

Your body really does march to its own beat. Learn how your circadian rhythm drives your sleep patterns and other ways your body works.

A good night’s rest and your well-being go hand-in-hand. Sleep can lead to certain health issues, and some conditions can take a toll on your slumber.

Snoring is more than just a nuisance. It can put you at risk for serious health problems. Take a look at the causes and some possible solutions.

When you’re in bed at night, tired but wide awake, it’s easy to worry that you’ll never sleep again. Take these steps to make sure you do.

Skimping on sleep can mess up more than just your morning mood. Give your body the ZZZs it needs for these key benefits.

What is a multiple sleep latency test? Measuring the latency of sleep and of entering REM sleep can be used to diagnose certain sleep conditions.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a questionnaire that can check a person’s sleepiness during the day. Learn about the scoring, how it works, and more.

Find out what you need to know about how essential oils can affect sleep apnea. Discover the pros, cons, risks, and how it may benefit your health today.

Find out what you need to know about yawning, why you yawn, when to be concerned, and what to do about it.

If you don't get enough sleep, you can develop sleep debt. Learn more about what sleep debt is, the health consequences, and more.

When you imagine loud noises as you're waking up or falling asleep, that's exploding head syndrome. It's a real disorder, but it's not as painful as it sounds.

You've heard melatonin might be able to help you sleep at night. What is melatonin, and can it really help your insomnia?

Learn more about PND, what causes it, how it feels like, and treatment options available.

The way you lie in bed could be affecting your health. Is it better to sleep on your side, back, or belly?

You may think you’re resting through the night, but your body and brain are working.

The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of non-24-hour sleep-wake-disorder (Non-24), a condition that disrupts your ability to go to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.

If you’ve had a charley horse, you know the pain of a spasming, knotting muscle cramp.

Learn about ways to fall asleep if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

Use this sleep-ready checklist from WebMD to keep your dreams sweet.

WebMD talks about dreams: what makes us dream, if dreams mean anything, what lucid dreaming is, and more.

Lack of sleep significantly impacts memory and cognitive function. Explore its effects and tips to improve sleep.

The experts at WebMD provide a list of questions to ask your doctor -- and the questions your doctor will likely ask you -- if you seek medical help for insomnia.

How does daytime fatigue affect your health? Get answers and tips from the experts at WebMD.

Struggling with insomnia? Find practical solutions for sleepless nights from the experts at WebMD.

WebMD offers tips on preparing for the transition of daylight saving time, and what to do if the time change is messing with your sleep.

Could sleep apnea or another medical condition be causing your sleepiness? WebMD looks at various medical conditions that disrupt your sleep, and what to do about them.

Have you ever been dozing off or waking up and unable to move or speak? The experts at WebMD explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis.

Is oversleeping getting in the way of your day? WebMD explains what can happen -- the physical side effects -- of getting too much sleep.

Sleeping pills have a sedative effect. They make you feel drowsy and treat insomnia. Learn the possible benefits, risks, and side effects of prescription sleeping pills.

WebMD describes central sleep apnea, including symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.

Does your partner's snoring, sleepwalking, or nighttime thrashing keep you awake? WebMD explains sleep disorders and offers tips for getting help for him or her.

Nightmares aren't just for children. WebMD explains why adults may have terrifying dreams and the physical and emotional stress they can cause.

Aches and pains keeping you up at night? WebMD explains the types of medications that can ease pain and help you sleep.