Eric Suni
Staff Writer
Eric Suni has over a decade of experience in health communications.
For over seven years at Fred Hutch, Seattle’s prestigious cancer research center, he worked as a science writer and information specialist for the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, communicating directly with cancer patients, their family members, and the general public to explain complex topics in an understandable and compassionate way.
He is passionate about promoting health and wellness by creating up-to-date, evidence-based resources and believes that improving sleep can have far-reaching benefits for public health.


My Sleep Score
Want to see how your sleep compares?
Take the Sleep Foundation quiz to see your score.
A Word From Eric
What’s your biggest sleeping pain point?
If I wake up during the night, my mind quickly revs up to start thinking about upoming events and to-do lists. It can be a struggle to fall back asleep quickly enough to prevent this from seriously disrupting my sleep.
What’s your favorite sleep product right now?
An eye mask. While its main purpose for me is to block out light, I find that it also acts as a queue for sleep and a barrier to checking my phone if I wake up during the night.
What is your nightly sleep regimen?
I try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time everyday and only make exceptions for meaningful reasons. I read in low light in bed until I’m sleepy, then put on my eye mask and fall asleep. I then try to get outside and take in morning light as soon as I reasonably can every day.
What’s your top sleep tip?
Optimize your light exposure. Light is the primary cue for circadian rhythm, which is a key driver of when you feel sleepy or alert. As more research is completed, the body of evidence demonstrating the sleep and health benefits from synchronizing your internal clock with your environment gets more and more impressive.
Read More From Eric

Best Sleeping Positions
Are you waking up in pain? It could be your sleep position. Learn about the…

Nutrition and Sleep
Sleep and nutrition have a complex relationship that directly affects your health. Learn the connections…

Mental Health and Sleep
Sleep and mental health are deeply intertwined. Learn about the complex relationship between sleep and…

Anxiety and Sleep
Anxiety is frequently connected to sleeping problems. Excess worry and fear make it harder to…

The Best Foods To Help You Sleep
Want to eat well to get better sleep? Read about food & drinks to help…

Stress and Insomnia
Explore the link between stress and insomnia, and learn ways to relieve stress to improve…

Nightmares
Nightmares can affect anyone, and when frequent, can harm sleep and daily life. Learn about…

Sleep Benefits of Tart Cherry Juice
Research shows that tart cherry juice can help you sleep, aid in muscle recovery, and…

Jet Lag: Your Guide to Sound Sleep After Travel
Worried about feeling alert and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule after a long flight? Learn…

How to Prepare for a Sleep Study
Sleep studies provide information about sleep problems. Discover tips to prepare for a sleep study…

How to Fix Your Sleep Schedule
Fix your sleeping schedule and get restorative slumber by optimizing your circadian rhythm.

Sleep Talking
Talking in your sleep can be disruptive, especially to bed partners. Learn about sleep talking…

Say we abolished daylight saving time. Here’s how it would change sleep.
Tired of springing forward and falling back? Imagine how getting rid of daylight saving time…

Latest updates: Daylight saving time in 2023
Daylight saving time is back upon us. Here's the latest news on efforts to do…

What Are the Different Types of Insomnia?
Not all insomnia is the same. Learn about short-term and chronic types of insomnia along…

Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that affects many people. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Light and Sleep
Light and sleep are closely intertwined. Learn about how different types of light exposure affects…

8-Month Sleep Regression
Many babies encounter sleep problems at 8 months. Learn about the causes of an 8-month…

6-Month Sleep Regression
Is your 6-month-old having trouble sleeping? Learn about 6-month sleep regressions, what may cause them,…

4-Month Sleep Regression
Has your 4-month-old’s sleep taken a step backward? Learn more about the 4-month sleep regressions…

12-Month Sleep Regression
Is your 1-year-old struggling with sleep? Learn more about 12-month sleep regressions, including potential causes…

18-Month Sleep Regression
Is your 18-month-old having sleep problems? Learn about 18-month sleep regressions, why they happen, and…

Can COVID-19 Cause Insomnia and Sleep Problems?
Sleep problems have grown during the pandemic. Learn about coronasomnia and the diverse ways that…

Bruxism: Teeth Grinding at Night
Sleep bruxism, or teeth grinding at night, can cause tooth damage. Learn to identify causes…

What Causes Insomnia?
Trying to find out why you have sleeping problems? Learn about the general causes of…

Sleep Training
Is it time to sleep train your baby? Discover the different sleep training methods you…

What to Do When You Can't Sleep: Insomnia Solutions
Combat insomnia by learning what to do when you can’t sleep.

The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Teeth Grinding
Clenching or gnashing your teeth during the night could be linked to a more troubling…

PMS and Insomnia
Sleeping problems are common in America, with up to 35% of adults reporting symptoms consistent…

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that involves severe daytime sleepiness. Learn about the types of…

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders
Abnormal breathing during sleep can be a serious problem. Our introduction gives background on sleep…

How to Stop Grinding Teeth: Effective Prevention Strategies
Sleep bruxism, or teeth grinding during sleep, can cause painful damage to the teeth and…

Sleep Drive and Your Body Clock
How does your body clock affect your sleep drive? Learn how your circadian rhythm and…

How to Prepare for the Start and End of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time can affect circadian rhythm and disrupt your sleep. Here's how to get…

Natural Sleep Aids
Wondering if natural sleep aids are safe and effective? Learn about the types of natural…

Snoring in Children
Are you worried about your child’s snoring? Learn about types of snoring in children, what…

Sleep Aids
Struggling with sleep or looking for more restorative sleep? Learn about the types of sleep…

Snoring and Sleep
Worried about snoring? Learn the basics, including what causes snoring, when it is dangerous, and…

Mouth And Throat Exercises to Help Stop Snoring and Improve OSA
Toning the muscles in your throat and mouth can help stop mild snoring and improve…

How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?
Sleep is vital to the development of children of all ages. Learn about how much…

How Much Sleep Do You Need?
Sleep is essential, but how much sleep do we really need? Learn about how many…

Melatonin and Sleep
Considering melatonin supplements for sleep help? Learn about the science of melatonin and the benefits…

Circadian Rhythm
Circadian rhythms promote quality sleep and overall health. Learn about the body’s internal clock and…

Compare Sleep Aids
Researching medications to help with sleep problems? Find out about your options, compare sleep aids,…

Stages of Sleep: What Happens in a Sleep Cycle
Healthy sleep consists of distinct stages. We break down the defining traits of each stage…

Sleeping Pills: Medications & Prescription Sleep Aids
Sleep aids are often used for insomnia and sleep problems. Learn about the types of…

How to Sleep with Lower Back Pain: Finding Comfort and Relief
Lower back pain can be a major barrier to sleep. Get the facts about the…

20 Tips for How to Sleep Better
Looking for ways to sleep better? We share the steps you can take to improve…

Mastering Sleep Hygiene: Your Path to Quality Sleep
Looking for ways to sleep better? Improving sleep hygiene can make your habits, routines, &…

How To Determine Poor Sleep Quality
Do you think you have poor sleep quality? Learn to recognize the signs of lack…

What Is "Revenge Bedtime Procrastination"?
Revenge bedtime procrastination is staying up late even when you know you need sleep. Our…

Orthopnea: Causes, Symptoms, and Management
Orthopnea is a shortness of breath that comes on when a person lies down, and…

How to Design the Ideal Bedroom for Sleep
Your sleep environment is crucial to getting quality rest. Learn how to take advantage of…

How To Cool a Room During Summer
Tired of sweating while you sleep? Learn key tips for regulating room temperature during summer…

Mold in the Bedroom
A damp environment enables growth of potentially harmful mold. Learn about the effects of mold…

Medical and Brain Conditions That Cause Excessive Sleepiness
Are you constantly sleepy? Our guide explains the potential causes of excessive sleepiness including sleep…

COVID-19 and Sleep: An Ongoing Concern
COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of daily life. Learn how this virus can also impact…

Sleep Guidelines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, society is adapting to a new normal. Sleeping well…

What Causes Night Sweats?
Do you find yourself waking up in a sweat? Learn about night sweats, their most…

GERD and Sleep
Is acid reflux interrupting your sleep? Learn how GERD can disrupt sleep, and what steps…

COVID-19 Vaccine: Sleep, Sickness, and Immunity
Looking for the facts about COVID-19 vaccines? Learn about COVID-19 vaccine availability, safety, effectiveness, and…

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea involves disrupted breathing during sleep. Learn about the types of sleep apnea as…

Nocturia: Causes and Treatments for Frequent Urination
Nocturia can disrupt sleep and signal more serious health concerns. Learn what causes nighttime bathroom…

How to Use a CPAP Machine for Better Sleep
Are you about to start using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea? We outline the…

Excessive Sleepiness and Workplace Accidents
Excessive sleepiness can lead to workplace accidents. Learn how sleepiness impacts safety in the workplace…

Alcohol and Sleep Apnea
Drinking alcohol is common, with roughly reporting having a drink in the last month. Although…

Interrupted Sleep
Is your sleep repeatedly disrupted during the night? Learn about interrupted sleep including its causes,…

How Sleep Affects Immunity
Getting the sleep you need is vital for your immune system. Lack of sleep can…

Sleepwalking: What is Somnambulism?
Trying to find out more about sleepwalking? Our guide explains the key details to know…

Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Have you experienced episodes of sleep paralysis? We explain symptoms, causes, and treatments of sleep…

Sleep Deprivation: Understanding the Hidden Consequences
Short- or long-term lack of sleep can have major consequences. Learn about sleep deprivation and…

How Lack of Sleep Impacts Cognitive Performance and Focus
Sleep is critical for the brain. Learn about how lack of sleep causes short- and…

How Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Heart
Sleep is vital for heart health. Learn about the impact of sleep deprivation on blood…

Short Sleepers
Some people need less sleep than others to feel refreshed. Find out about natural short…

Drowsy Driving
Worried about nodding off behind the wheel? Learn about the causes and dangers of drowsy…

Myths and Facts About Sleep
Get educated on the scientific facts that disprove common sleep myths, and learn evidence-based ways…

What’s the Connection Between Race and Sleep Disorders?
The burden of sleeping problems falls more heavily on people of color. Our guide explores…

How Would Later School Start Times Affect Sleep?
Experts recommend middle and high schools begin no sooner than 8:30 a.m. Later school start…

Sleep Statistics
Looking for the facts about sleep? Our in-depth look at sleep statistics gives hard data…

What is a BiPAP Machine?
A bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP) machine normalizes breathing by into the upper…

Diagnosing Excessive Sleepiness
If you constantly feel tired no matter how much you sleep, you may have excessive…

Diagnosing Narcolepsy
Concerned that you have symptoms of narcolepsy? Learn about the tests and criteria used to…

How to Dress a Baby for Sleep
Knowing how to dress a baby for sleep helps keep them comfortable and safe. Learn…

How Smell Affects Your Sleep
Wondering how smells and aromatherapy can impact sleep? Learn about how smell affects sleep and…

How Is Sleep Different For Men and Women?
While sleep is essential for everyone, women and men sleep differently. Learn about the differences…

Teens and Sleep
Too many teens get insufficient sleep. Learn about the importance of sleep for teens, challenges…

Improve Your Child’s School Performance With a Good Night’s Sleep
Does good sleep contribute to better school performance? Learn about how to improve sleep and…

Cancer and Sleep
Cancer and sleep have a complex and multifaceted relationship. Learn how sleep can affect cancer…

Long Sleepers
Long sleepers habitually sleep more hours per night than people in their age group. Learn…

What Causes Restless Sleep?
Are you tossing and turning all night and struggling to wake up refreshed? Read more…

The Relationship Between Sex and Sleep
Wondering how sleep and your sex life are related? Learn how sleep and sex can…

Hydration and Sleep
Hydration is essential to health, but its links to sleep are overlooked. Learn how hydration…

Insomnia and Women
Women are more likely than men to suffer from insomnia. Learn about the unique ways…

Wakefulness After Sleep Onset
Wakefulness after sleep onset measures time spent awake after falling asleep. Learn about how this…

Sleep Apnea and COVID
As research evolves, experts are learning more about COVID’s relationship to other conditions. Learn about…

Technology in the Bedroom
Technology in the bedroom can be a major barrier to sleep. Creating a technology-free environment…

How Sleep Works: Understanding the Science of Sleep
Sleep is a complex and dynamic biological process that still isn’t fully understood. Learn about…

Can You Die From Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Learn about…

How Do Animals Sleep?
Have you ever wondered how giraffes sleep, or how fish sleep? Read about the sleep…

Epworth Sleepiness Scale
As many as 25% of people experience , a symptom that can impact a person’s…

What Happens When You Sleep?
During sleep, intricate processes unfold in the brain and body. Learn about what happens when…

Why Are All-Nighters Harmful?
Thinking about staying up all night? All-nighters are harmful for thinking, memory, and overall health.…

Babies and Head Banging at Night
Head banging, body rocking, and head rolling may disturb parents, but they are usually benign.…

Gaba for Sleep
GABA supplements are advertised to help with various health problems. Learn about how GABA works…

Eating Disorders and Sleep
Learn the basics about eating disorders, how they are linked to sleeping problems, and how…

Sleeping With Socks On
Sleeping with socks on is more than just a personal preference — learn about this…

Narcolepsy Treatment
Can narcolepsy be cured? Can its symptoms be improved? Learn about the different types of…

Beverages To Avoid to Sleep Soundly While Traveling
Want to avoid sleep problems on your trip? This guide outlines the beverages to seek…

Sleep Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy is a type of mind-body medicine that is often misunderstood. Learn about sleep hypnosis,…

Sleep Dictionary
Terminology about sleep can be confusing. Our sleep dictionary clearly explains common sleep terms so…

Making a New Year’s Sleep Resolution
Ready for a change to improve your sleep? Learn how to make a New Year’s…

Sleep and Overeating
Overeating and sleep have a bidirectional relationship. Sleep deprivation can induce overeating, and at the…