"Although there are times during the day when we are naturally likely to feel drowsy, in many cases, sleepiness is a sign that something is amiss," adds Twery. "The handbook offers several ideas to help you improve your sleep, but if you feel that you regularly have problems breathing during sleep, wake up unrefreshed after a full night's sleep, or frequently feel very sleepy during the day, you should see your doctor to find out if you could have a sleep disorder."

"Your Guide to Healthy Sleep" can be downloaded free at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.htm. Printed copies are available for $3.50 through the NHLBI website or from the NHLBI Information Center at P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105, or at 301-592-8573 or 240-629-3255 (TTY).

To learn more about healthy sleep and sleep disorders:

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep
Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms supplemental curriculum for use in high school biology classes
http://osedev.od.nih.gov/supplements/nih3/sleep/default.htm.
Star Sleeper educational materials for children and their caregivers http://starsleep.nhlbi.nih.gov.
Note: National Sleep Awareness Week® is a registered trademark of the National Sleep Foundation.

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research was established in 1993 through U.S. congressional legislation authorizing support for sleep-related research and educational programs, and the coordination of related activities among the NIH, other federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. NIH annually funds more than $189 million in sleep-related research conducted by researchers in universities and hospitals in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep.

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.