Separate Beds: the Key to Happy Marriage?

It's more natural to sleep in two four-hour shifts

(NEWSER) - If you often wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep right away, you probably call it “insomnia”—but it might actually be more natural than sleeping for eight hours straight. "The dominant pattern of sleep, arguably since time immemorial, was biphasic," a sleep historian tells Life’s Little Mysteries . What that means: Sleep came in two four-hour blocks, with a period of an hour or more in between during which people might pray, think about their dreams, or even visit with neighbors. More»

Not getting enough rest takes a toll on work, social, sex lives

(NEWSER) - Americans are getting by on less and less rest, a survey by the National Sleep Foundation reveals. Fewer than half of Americans say they get a good night's sleep, and average sleep times are about 2 hours shorter than those reported 40 years ago. Sleeplessness is taking a toll not just on Americans' health but also on their love lives—a quarter of married or cohabiting couples say they're often too tired to have sex, HealthDay News reports. More»

New drug could replace addictive sedatives as travel cure

(NEWSER) - A new drug could allow travelers to fly past jet lag without the lingering drowsiness of addictive sedatives, the BBC reports. The drug resets natural sleep rhythms by adjusting the body’s sleep hormone, melatonin, allowing sleep to come sooner and last longer. If approved, Tasimelteon could provide welcome relief to airline crews, frequent fliers, and graveyard-shift workers. More»

Forbes explains why Americans aren't getting enough sleep

(NEWSER) - The health benefits of sleep are well-documented, but catching Zs isn't so easy in a society all about hard work and an active lifestyle. Forbes runs down some reasons Americans aren't getting enough quality time with their pillows.

• Marital problems: A bad marriage makes for poor shut-eye. Happy wives fell asleep easier and have a more restful slumber, according to one study.

Short, long hours of shuteye increase odds of smoking, obesity

(NEWSER) - Irregular sleep habits increase the likelihood of obesity and smoking, the AP reports. The CDC surveyed 87,000 Americans over 2 years and found that individuals who sleep fewer than 6 hours a night or more than 9 were 5% to 10% more likely to smoke and 4% to 11% more likely to be obese than those who slept 6 to 9 hours. More»