A List Of Ten Myths And Misconceptions About Sleeping Debunked And Explained

However we all have those nights, where we are tossing and turning and anxiously look at the clock every 5 minutes worrying about our lack of sleep.


Below are a list of ten myths debunked, which are commonly believed to be true. Accompanied with tips and ideas on ensuring you get a good nights sleep.


1.Every Adult needs around 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night This is not entirely true, although the average person does sleep for around 7 or 8 hours, there have been cases of people sleeping for ten hours or as little as five. Instead of trying to get the average, find out what suits you best and stick to that.



2.We should try to make up for all our lost sleep on subsequent nights
Sleep experts don't advise this as your sleep pattern will become disrupted and although come Monday morning you will feel full of energy, you will hit an afternoon slump. Instead stick to a balanced sleep pattern, sleep on average the same each night and not sleeping more than an extra two hours at the weekend.


3.The older you are the less sleep you need. An adult requires the same amount of sleep throughout their life. However as you get older it may become more difficult to sleep, you may be woken up easier by the slightest noise and your sleep pattern fragmented.



4.Waking up during the night means you'll be tired all day. This slight lack of sleep will not make you noticeably sleepier during the day, and your reaction time and ability to fight of diseases will be impaired. If this is consistent your sleep debt will build up making you feel excessively tired.


5.Naps are a waste of time. Nothing can effectively replace a full nights sleep Taking a nap after 3pm can affect your sleep pattern for that night, making you less tired so it being more difficult to fall asleep. Exercise is better earlier in the day as it increases your temperature which will stay high for hours hindering a persons sleep pattern. Some people do find it does help as they feel more tired so it is easier to fall asleep, so find out what's best for you.


7.It's good to hang out in your bedroom at night, before you go to sleep, because it will get you "ready" to fall asleep. Its all part of getting into a routine before going to sleep, this way your body recognises the routine with sleeping so will relax and prepare itself for sleep. This way it will be easier to drift off.



8.Eating before bedtime will cause nightmares There is no medical evidence to prove that certain foods, such as cheese causes nightmares. However eating before bed will hinder digestion and will cause discomfort, therefore causing a difficult and uncomfortable sleep.


9.Snoring is the same as Sleep Apnea It is a common misconception that Snoring is the same as Sleep Apnea when in fact Sleep Apnea is a lot more serious as the sufferer will stop breathing several times a night. It is advised to use a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) sleep apnea mask as it keeps airways open as you sleep.



10.Watching TV in my bedroom and working on my laptop in bed helps me wind down and fall asleep. Any type of activity which requires you to concentrate, is counter-productive when trying to sleep. It prevents your body from relaxing and keeps your body alert. It is also advised that you keep your bedroom primarily for sleeping.


Making sure you get a good nights sleep will generally improve your well-being and health. If your sleep deprivation gets worse, dont panic and visit your GP for more advice.

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Emilee Jaden

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