It’s Time To Debunk Some Sleeping Myths, How Many Did You Think Were True?

Humans sleep for about one-third of their lives and so, there are many sleeping myths out there. A terrible night’s sleep can result in you being grouchy next morning. It might also lead to poor performance at work or school. Prolonged sleep deprivation on the other hand can cause significant health concerns, such as an increased risk of heart attack and premature death etc.

So, Here are eight sleeping myths you probably thought were true.

Myth #1: Watching television is a fantastic way to relax before going to bed.

You probably already knew that this is a bad idea. Screen time of any sort including that from cellphones, laptops, and other personal devices shouldn’t be used when getting ready for bed.

Myth #2: Your brain shuts down during sleep

Fortunately, our brains do not stop working when we sleep because vital activities such as breathing require our brains to remain active. In reality, brain wave activity is similar to being awake during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep i.e. the phase in which we dream.

Myth #3: Getting Used To Sleeping Less

According to research, a lack of sleep has a negative impact on both the short and long term, indicating that your brain and body cannot simply adjust to having less sleep. After a few nights of not getting enough sleep, you are likely to feel sleepy throughout the day. This increase in fatigue may settle over weeks or months without enough sleep, but this does not indicate that your body is trying to adapt to sleep loss.

Myth #4: Working out at night will make it more difficult to sleep.

It is common knowledge that those who exercise sleep better than couch potatoes. Nevertheless, contrary to the popular belief, sweating it out close to nighttime may lead you to feel wired as you fall asleep!

Also Read: 10 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The Universe

Myth #5: More sleep is always better.

People who are recovering from sickness may require more sleep. Still excessive sleep otherwise might be an indication of an underlying health condition. Furthermore, some studies have also indicated that those who sleep too much have a higher mortality rate! Why? Well, more research is being conducted in this regard and we so, we’ll have to wait a little before we find a conclusive answer.

Myth #6: The older you get, the less sleep you need.

According to sleep specialists, most individuals should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. While our sleep habits may alter as we age, the quantity of sleep our bodies require does not. Older adults’ then need to sleep the same way as the younger ones.

Myth #7: Regular snoring is normal.

Snoring is a typical condition that many people experience from time to time. Loud snoring on most nights is abnormal and should get checked. It frequently indicates that something is interfering with breathing during sleep in both children and adults. This condition is known as obstructive sleep apnea.

Myth #8: You can train yourself to need less sleep.

In general, our bodies are capable of pushing past tiredness and continuing to function. Still, you cannot deceive or trick your body into sleeping less. It is necessary to spend time in each phase of sleep, to allow the body enough rest time that it naturally requires.

How many of these sleeping myths did you think were true? Let us know in the comments.