Top 8 Sleep Myths

We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, and yet, so many people have the wrong perception of it. All the facts of sleep have been passed around and marred over time. See for yourself if you’ve heard any of these myths, and find out the real truth behind them! 1) Sleep simply means to restTruth: Sleep is an essential time for your body to perform routine maintenance, creating long-term memories and internalizing knowledge that you have gained in the day. Sleep boosts the immune system too. 2) Sleep is a passive eventTruth: The brain is even more active during dream sleep than the non-dream sleep and awakened state. It has been shown the metabolic activity during dream sleep is high and essential to rejuvenation, memory building and feeling refreshed. 3) Losing an hour of sleep is no big dealTruth: If you get less sleep than you need, your ability to do cognitive and physical tasks is decreased. If that sleep loss builds up over time, you develop a sleep debt which can interfere with the hormones that monitor appetite, change your moods and increase your risk of chronic illnesses. 4) The more I dream, the more tired I amTruth: Dreaming is important for the brain to organize itself. Whatever the case, it is important to get rejuvenated and feel refreshed in the morning. All dreams are good for the individual. 5) Naps are wastefulTruth: Naps are a great way to catch up on lost sleep. After taking naps, people function better and do cognitive tasks quicker. Napping also trains you to fall asleep quicker. Avoid napping longer than an hour or after 3pm as it may make it more difficult for you to fall asleep at night. 6) Snoring is normal and indicates good, deep sleep. Truth: While snoring is very common, it indicates a more serious sleep disorder. You may have developed sleep apnea, especially if you’re frequently short of breath while sleeping, or if you are excessively tired during the day. Snoring DOES NOT indicate deep sleep. 7) You can learn to get less sleepTruth: You cannot ‘train’ yourself to sleep less. If you sleep for less than five hours a night, research has shown that you will suffer from poor mood and reduced mental ability. Older people need less sleepTruth: Older people need the same amount of sleep as everyone else. But they do get their required hours of sleep per day by napping in the morning or afternoon.