With the overload of sleep information out there it is any wonder, we get confused when it comes to sleep facts. Here are 10 things that are just not true about sleep.
1. You should count sheep! Lying in bed for too long and trying to sleep isn’t healthy. If it’s been 20 minutes, get up and walk around for a minute, get a glass of water and try again.
2. Your brain rests when you sleep. Your brain is keeping your body functioning and even during our deepest REM sleep, our brain is processing information.
3. Other people know when you are tired. Or you know others are tired for that matter! Ask, whose business you are in and just concern yourself about yourself!
4. Elderly people sleep less. Has anyone noticed the elderly dropping off for naps during the day? Well, this is why they sleep less at night and not because they don’t need less. The average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night.
5. You can have limited sleep, but be healthy in other ways! Sleep is related to many health issues and we can’t cheat because our body knows: obesity, diabetes and depression are just some health issues that can be associated with sleep.
6. People who are sleepy during the day haven’t had enough sleep at night! Medical conditions can cause sleepiness so it is best to see your doctor if you are getting the recommended sleep, but still nodding off during the day.
7. Insomnia is just about not sleeping. It is also about waking too early, frequent awakenings and waking feeling unrefreshed.
8. Lazy teens sleep-in and miss the bus! Experts are saying teens need 8-10 hours of sleep and that their body clock keeps them up late and makes them sleep-in in the mornings!
9. Mothers must force their toddlers to nap. According to paediatrician, Greg Yapalater, naps tend to work themselves out. Along with this theory, routines need to be followed. He said nap schedules usually start when the child is an infant and are around feeding times.
10. Men and women need the same amount of sleep. Actually women need about 20 minutes more, according to Dr. Jim Horne , Britain’s leading expert in sleep science. He said this was due to women using more of their brain through doing multi-tasking type behaviours. However, he said specifically during pregnancy and menopause, women were not getting what was recommended.
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