Mayo Clinic Smart Guide to Insomnia (The Secret to Falling Asleep and Staying Asleep)

An essential resource to manage insomnia and improve sleep from the sleep experts at Mayo Clinic.

As a nation, we have a sleep problem. Constant pressures to stay connected, work harder and do more, while still fitting in some fun, are leaving us less time for sleep. And when we finally do find time to rest, we aren’t sleeping well. . 

Your body has several ways of letting you know when it’s not getting the sleep it needs to perform well and stay healthy. You’ve likely experienced some of them: A pressing urge to sleep. Waning energy levels and fatigue. Moodiness and irritability. Concentration gaps. But even when your body is sending clear signals that it’s tired and needs rest, you may still struggle to sleep once you turn off the lights.

These can all be signs of insomnia. 

Insomnia is frustrating and common. It's estimated up to 1 in 7 U.S. adults — possibly more — struggle with insomnia. If you're not sleeping well, you have plenty of company. 

We believe the better you understand sleep, the more equipped you'll be to overcome your sleep problem. This book begins by delving into why we need sleep, how we sleep and the many ways  lack of sleep can impact health. It explores insomnia, including the factors that can contribute to its development and the toll the condition can take if ignored. It also reviews various therapies to treat insomnia, restoring the mental and physical benefits of healthy sleep. 

There are plenty of reasons for hope that you, too, can sleep better.

From leading medical experts, the Mayo Clinic Smart Guides series delivers trusted, evidence-based answers in a concise, easy-to-use format—cutting through the noise of overwhelming health information. Each guide focuses on clear, practical, action-oriented steps readers can take right away, presented in a highly accessible, portable format designed for quick reference and real-life use.