Top 7 Sleep Myths
Though numerous studies continue speculating about the dangers and benefits of sleeping less or sleeping more, there is also a cloud of sleep myths emerging. Dr Lisa Shives (medical director) from the Northshore Sleep Medicine, Evanston clearly makes a demarcation between what is true and what is not about sleeping patterns.
Top 7 Sleep Myths
Some sleep myths as perceived to be true by people are listed here below:
- One is not suffering from any sleep problem if he or she can fall asleep anywhere and at any time: Dr Shives opines that it is normal for people to take on an average about 10-20 minutes to fall asleep. Therefore, people who can fall asleep in less than 5 minutes genuinely suffer from some kind of sleep disorder.
- As we grow older, we require more sleep: This is completely not true says Dr Shives. She further explains that everyone needs the same and a minimum amount of sleep. Elderly people may have a problem getting enough sleep which can be dealt with special attention and treatment.
- Overweight men suffer from sleep apnea: This is not completely true because though men above 40 have a tendency to suffer from sleep apnea, reports from the American Sleep apnea Association suggests that 12 million Americans, of all ages suffer from sleep apnea.
- Alcohol or other beverages fetches you a good nights sleep: This is completely not true say experts because alcohol starts by making a person tired which ultimately is perceived as an effective reason for sound sleep. Instead, one can be disturbed with a fragmented pattern of sleep. Alcohol is also said to induce snoring and sleep apnea conditions.
- Going to bed early means you’re getting enough sleep: Experts believe that this is really not the case because a person gets best sleep in the first few hours of sleep. Thereby it is immaterial to connect the quality of sleep with how early or late you’ve slept.
- Teenagers sleeping late and getting up late is a sign of laziness: This again is not so true say experts but a physical condition in adolescents. Experts opine that the body naturally puts off the sleep-related hormone which in teenagers is released during the late hours of the day. So when people think of sleeping, teenagers think of waking up (source).
- The brain sleeps while we sleep: Experts opine that it is just the opposite as people perceive it to be. The brain works harder and controls major bodily functions while the body is at rest or sleeping like breathing, controlling the 2 sleep states (rapid eye movement sleep and the non-rapid eye movement sleep) – source.
Dr Shives from the Northshore Sleep Medicine also brings a significant issue forward by stating that many children are not diagnosed properly for sleep disorders. Instead, they are simply put on stimulants. In addition, insomnia may not necessarily be a final diagnosis but also a symptom of conditions like the Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome or Pickwickian Syndrome (combination of obesity, falling oxygen levels in the bloodstream and increasing carbon dioxide during sleep).
