Nighttime is rarely still in Tehran, but at the Tehran Sleep Center on Molla Sadra Street, the quiet hum of machines signals a busy new chapter. The center has seen a 30% increase in sleep study bookings over the last year, reflecting a growing concern: Tehranis want answers to their exhaustion, insomnia, and restless nights.
This matters now because poor sleep has become an urgent wellness issue across the city. Dr. Farzaneh Sadeghi, a neurologist at Bahman Hospital in Ekbatan, reports her outpatient sleep clinic waitlist stretching from weeks to months as patients complain of persistent fatigue, headaches, and irritability. With city life accelerating and blue-lit screens everywhere, Tehran’s population is grappling with the health consequences of frayed nightly routines.
Local Clinics Step Up
The Tehran Sleep Center, housed in the Medico building a block from Vanak Square, offers overnight polysomnography for diagnosing disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and chronic insomnia. Each overnight study—a process involving sensors for brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, and movement—costs around 15 million tomans, a 20% jump from last year due to higher equipment import prices. Clinic staff say the recent surge includes not just older adults but young professionals from neighborhoods like Gisha and Shahrak-e Gharb, who report trouble sleeping through the night.
In Saadat Abad, Atieh Hospital operates a dedicated Sleep Disorders Center with expanded evening hours. Their team uses home-based sleep testing kits and cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for patients wary of overnight stays. According to Atieh’s monthly patient logs, the volume of referrals for suspected sleep apnea rose from 60 per month in early 2025 to over 90 this spring.
Sleep Troubles in Tehran By the Numbers
Recent findings from a Tehran University of Medical Sciences survey show that more than 40% of adults in the capital report symptoms of chronic insomnia. Nationwide, it’s estimated that around 10% of Iranians live with undiagnosed sleep apnea, a condition linked to heart disease and decreased job performance. Private clinics report that an initial sleep consultation in Tehran generally costs between 1.5 and 2 million tomans, while more comprehensive overnight studies, as seen at Tabiban Polyclinic in Pasdaran, often exceed 12 million tomans.
Health professionals are also encouraging awareness among families—especially as poor sleep in adolescents and young adults spikes during exam season. New educational efforts at Shahid Beheshti University’s wellness program include weekly seminars about sleep hygiene, blue light exposure, and when to seek medical evaluation for persistent fatigue.
For those who suspect a deeper problem than simple restlessness, Tehran’s growing network of sleep clinics provides a path for diagnosis and management. Residents can check with their district’s major hospitals or search for “مرکز خواب تهران” (Tehran Sleep Center) online for booking information. Doctors caution against self-diagnosis—with sleep disorders, expert evaluation remains the gold standard for wellness. For anyone tossing and turning in Tehran, a structured sleep study may provide the first step toward meaningful rest.