How Sleep Works
Animals' Sleep: Is There a Human Connection?
Giraffes can go without sleep for weeks, while brown bats sleep for nearly the entire day. The golden dormouse carefully balances itself on the branch of a tree to sleep, and any quiver of the twig wakes it up immediately.
Myths - and Facts - About Sleep
There are many common myths about sleep. We hear them frequently, and may even experience them far too often. Sometimes they can be characterized as "old wives tales," but there are other times the incorrect information can be serious and even dangerous. The National Sleep Foundation has compiled this list of common myths about sleep, and the facts that dispel them.
How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?
Ellen Caroll has often asked herself this exact question – especially when it comes to helping her family members get the amount of sleep they need. With a son in preschool and a daughter in high school, a husband who works over 50 hours a week and aging parents, one with Parkinson's disease, Ellen's family runs the gamut when it comes to age and sleep needs.
What Happens When You Sleep?
When we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed and alert for our daily activities. Sleep affects how we look, feel and perform on a daily basis, and can have a major impact on our overall quality of life.
The Sleep Environment
Does that drip, drip, drip of the faucet keep you up at night? Do you need to keep your fan running because "white noise" helps you sleep? Have you ever tossed and turned because you were too hot, or too cold? What about the barking dog or the cat that jumps onto your bed – have they ever disrupted your zzz's?
