sleep

What parents need to know before giving kids melatonin

7:18am December 16, 2023

by Maria Godoy

Research shows nearly 1 in 5 school-age children are using melatonin to help them sleep. But these supplements are unregulated and pediatricians worry about their safety and the dose.

The science is clear that teens can benefit from later school start times, but in Nashville and other communities, it's politically difficult to make the change.

Health & Safety

Science says teens need more sleep. So why is it so hard to start school later?

9:14am November 09, 2023

by Catherine Sweeney - WPLN

Reasearch shows teens don't get sleepy until 10:45 or 11 p.m. But high school classes in Nashville still start at 7:05 a.m. "It's not a badge of honor," says the mayor.

Planning a long-haul flight? Here's how to outsmart jet lag

5:00pm August 20, 2023

by Andrea Muraskin

Wondering how to prepare for sleep disruption? Should you take melatonin or other sleep aids? Here's answers from researchers and seasoned travelers — including NPR's international correspondents.

Northern elephant seals can go long stretches with only small naps. Then they crash once they're on shore.

Science

Think you're tired? This animal goes for months with only two hours of sleep a day

2:25pm April 20, 2023

by Ari Daniel

Scientists have learned that northern elephant seals — massive creatures found along the Pacific Coast of North America — cobble together a couple hours of sleep using underwater power naps.

Even a one-hour change in the clock can disrupt the body's circadian rhythms, especially when the clock "springs forward."

Changing our clocks is a health hazard. Just ask a sleep doctor

7:01am March 11, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

A bipartisan group of senators wants to make daylight saving time permanent. But sleep experts say standard time is better, because it saves morning light and is more in sync with our natural rhythms.

Queue Listen Now

A sign reads "Danger Extreme Heat Conditions Ahead" in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is threatened by climate change, on March 23 near Borrego Springs, Calif.

Hot weather could be getting in the way of good sleep, a new study finds

5:26pm May 23, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

Scientists analyzed the correlation between sleep activity and hot nighttime temperatures. A lack of sleep is a risk factor for physical and mental health problems.

Just one night's sleep with artificial light streaming into your bedroom — from a TV, streetlight, or one of many electronics — could have an impact on cardiovascular and metabolic health, according to new research.

Sleeping with even a little bit of light isn't good for your health, study shows

10:17am April 01, 2022

by Will Stone

Just a night or two of exposure to faint light is enough to raise your pulse and increase insulin resistance — factors that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, researchers find.

Passengers sleep on the upper deck of a double-decker bus in Hong Kong on Saturday.

New Hong Kong bus tour is meant to put people to sleep

11:40am October 21, 2021

by L. Carol Ritchie

The Sleeping Bus Tour is a 5-hour, 47-mile ride to nowhere on a double-decker bus. It's designed for people who are easily put to sleep on moving vehicles. Passengers can bring pillows and blankets.

Researchers are learning that there is a significant relationship between sleep and dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Deep Sleep Protects Against Alzheimer's, Growing Evidence Shows

2:38pm November 17, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

People who get more deep sleep appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's. That may be because this phase of sleep allows the brain to clear out waste products.

Insomnia has become even more common, sleep specialists say, with the rise of "collective social anxiety."

Health & Safety

How To Get Sleep In Uneasy Times

2:51pm June 02, 2020

by Patti Neighmond

Many people are struggling with insomnia like never before. Specialists explain why these times put an extra strain on our ability to get needed rest — and what to do about it.