“We now know that lack of sleep, insomnia, is likely to put you at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure,” says Alon Avidan, MD, MPH, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center.

Research also links poor Zzz’s with kidney disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity. Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease may also be tied to bad sleep. And of course, life’s simply harder to enjoy when you’re always sleepy. (Did we mention you’re also more likely to get a cold if you skimp on shut-eye?)

Advances in sleep medicine over the last year or so — including research, technology, and a new breed of medication — may help. While none may be magic bullets for tough sleep problems, these treatments give you more options if you need better rest. Insomnia makes it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Narcolepsy is a problem with your sleep cycles that causes sleep attacks during the day and periods of disrupted sleep at night. Both narcolepsy and insomnia can make you feel sleepy during the day.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that is often misunderstood. It is characterized by severe and persistent daytime sleepiness that can cause impairments in school, work, and social settings as well as heighten the risk of serious accidents and injuries. If you suffer from this condition, try the new Natural Remedies for Narcolepsy which are also on sale online.

“With insomnia treatment, it’s a lot of trial and error,” says sleep specialist Preethi Rajan, MD, of the North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y. It can take time and effort to find a treatment that works long-term.