Harvard Health Blog

No more counting sheep: Proven behaviors to help you sleep

POSTED NOVEMBER 29, 2018, 10:30 AM
Suzanne Bertisch, MD, MPH, Contributor

As humans, we spend about one-third of our lives asleep. Though science has taught us about the human brain’s exquisite control of our daily sleep and wake patterns, tens of millions of Americans still don’t get the sleep they need. Nearly 20% of American adults report using a sleep medication to help them sleep, despite known side effects and information about how well they really work. Some people turn to alcohol for relief. And many have tried everything without relief.

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