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Ask the doctors

Q. My partner says I snore at night. Does this mean I have sleep apnea?

A. If you snore at night, you're in good company. Some 90 million Americans have the same problem, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. And luckily, not all of them have sleep apnea. Snoring is typically caused by a narrowing of your upper airway. Tissues in the back of your throat sometimes relax in your sleep and drop down, partially blocking the passageway. Air from your breathing rattles the tissue, creating that distinctive noise as it flows past.

In the journals

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Trouble sleeping? You may need to examine your outlook on life. A study published online July 10, 2017, by Sleep Science and Practice found that people who felt they had more meaning and purpose in their life had fewer sleep disturbances like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.

Researchers asked 823 older adults, average age 79, to fill out questionnaires about their sleep quality and their feelings about their lives, such as how strongly they agreed with statements like "I feel good when I think of what I've done in the past and what I hope to do in the future."

Sleep gives the brain the opportunity to rid itself of proteins believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and now research is showing an association between poor sleep and the accumulation of those proteins.

Can getting quality sleep help prevent the disease?

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A good night's sleep does more than rejuvenate you for the next day. It may help protect you against Alzheimer's disease. Research has begun to show an association between poor sleep and a higher risk of accumulating beta-amyloid protein plaque in the brain, one of the hallmarks of the disease.

"Observational studies have found that adults over age 65 with amyloid plaques in their brain have reduced slow-wave sleep, which is thought to play an important role in memory function, even though these people do not yet show signs of Alzheimer's, like memory loss and cognitive decline," says Dr. Brad Dickerson, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. "It may be that quality sleep could play a role in who may get Alzheimer's."

Irregular or insufficient sleep increases your risk of cardiovascular disease.

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If you're one of the many people who toss and turn nightly, you already know that a bout of sleeplessness can hamper your productivity and sap your quality of life. But the ramifications of poor sleep extend far beyond a cranky mood. Research shows that an on-going sleep deficit can ultimately endanger your heart health.

Hazards of poor sleep

Tens of millions of Americans experience a chronic lack of sleep. While some people shortcut the customary eight hours of snooze time in favor of work or social pursuits, many others suffer from insomnia or another disorder that curtails a healthy slumber.

Sleeping less doesn't have to be a consequence of growing older. A few adjustments to your sleep habits can help you sleep longer and better.

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If worries that you're not getting enough sleep are keeping you up at night, it's little wonder. A steady stream of reports has linked inadequate sleep to cognitive decline. Studies have also shown that people with sleep debts accrued by consecutive nights of sleeping too little are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and weight gain.

Sleep is essential to good health, and not just because it knits up the raveled sleeve of care. It restores physical and mental performance, immune function, and metabolism. But how much sleep is necessary for those functions? It varies from person to person, says Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, a physiologist and physician at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital who studies sleep.

Getting enough good-quality sleep is essential to staying healthy and aging well. Certain sleep problems � for example, sleep apnea � require medical treatment. But these 10 simple steps can help you overcome general sleep difficulties, including insomnia.

1. Stick to aÌýconsistent sleep schedule and routine.ÌýGo to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. A set sleep routine will "train" you to fall asleep and wake up more easily.
2. Use the bed only for sleep and sex.
3. Cut down on caffeine.ÌýFor some people, a single cup of coffee in the morning means a sleepless night. Caffeine can also increase the need to urinate during the night.
4. Be physically active.ÌýRegular aerobic exercise like walking, running, or swimming provides three important sleep benefits: you'll fall asleep faster, attain a higher percentage of restorative deep sleep, and awaken less often during the night.
5. Limit daytime naps.ÌýProlonged napping can disrupt your natural sleep cycle and prevent you from feeling tired enough to fall asleep.
6. If you use tobacco in any form, quit.ÌýNicotine makes it harder to fall asleep.
7. Use alcohol cautiously.ÌýAlcohol depresses the nervous system, so a nightcap may help some people fall asleep. But this effect disappears after a few hours and may even lead to waking up throughout the night. Alcohol can also worsen snoring and other sleep breathing problems.
8. Improve your sleep surroundings.ÌýRemove the television, telephone, and any other devices from the bedroom. This reinforces the idea that this room is meant for sleeping. An ideal environment is quiet, dark, and relatively cool, with a comfortable bed and minimal clutter.
9. If you're still awake after about 20 minutes in bed,Ìýget up and read awhile to relax. Otherwise, you'll set yourself up for tossing and turning.
10. Try to avoid taking sleeping pills.ÌýIf you do take a prescription sleep medicine, work with your doctor to use it effectively and for as short a time as possible.

For more ways to get better-quality sleep and tackle common sleep problems, buy , a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.Ìý

Answer these questions so you can identify poor sleep patterns or symptoms and seek treatment.

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Most people know that sleep is an important part of good health. But not everyone is as well versed on how to get those coveted Z's. "Sleep literacy could use a lot of work. The average amount of sleep Americans get has dropped by an hour to an hour and a half per night," says sleep expert Dr. Lawrence Epstein, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Epstein points out that people who get less sleep are more likely to develop obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. "People who sleep less don't live as long as people who sleep more," he warns.

Some of these prescription medications are linked to daytime sleepiness, a risk of falls, and more.

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Millions of Americans rely on prescription sleep medications, called sedative hypnotics, to fall asleep. While the drugs can help people get a decent night's rest, they are not designed for long-term use. "Each of the pills has its own risks," says sleep expert Dr. Lawrence Epstein, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Types of sleep aids

Sedative hypnotics fall into three categories.

Melatonin-receptor agonists such as ramelteon (Rozerem) leave the body quickly. They target melatonin receptors in the brain and are not thought to be habit-forming.