10 Sleeping Myths

The sheer volume of products such as sleep aids, orthopaedic mattresses and relaxation devices indicates a societal problem with getting enough sleep. There are certainly serious sleep disorders and other conditions that make some of these products necessary, but in some cases, sleeplessness or problems relating to sleep can be fixed by abandoning an adherence to incorrect myths about the process of sleeping.

Myth 1: The Brain Rests During Sleep

• Sleep is a time for the body to recharge; the brain is just as, if not more, active during these hours. It regulates breathing and body functions and some areas, like synapses for memory and learning, are actually more active during sleep.

Myth 2: The Older You Get, The Less Sleep You Need

• Adults, regardless of age, should get between seven and nine hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. These may not all come during night hours, so naps may be necessary. One age group requires more sleep: Teenagers need between eight and nine-and-a-half hours of sleep per day. Since most teenagers do not get these hours at night, this may result in falling asleep in class or sleeping in on weekends.

Myth 3: Snoring is a Natural Part of Sleep

• Snoring can indicate a number of medical problems, including sleep apnea, or the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep. People who snore excessively should consult a physician.

Myth 4: One Hour Less of Sleep Won't Affect You

• Sleeping for five or six hours a night instead of the recommended seven to nine may not make you feel more tired during the day, but it can dramatically slow your reaction time and reduce your body's ability to fight infections. Consistently sleeping less than the recommended time will eventually result in excessive daytime sleepiness.

Myth 5: Insufficient Sleep Won't Affect Other Areas of Your Health

• During sleep, the brain boosts the secretion of certain hormones that help fight obesity. Interrupted and insufficient sleep results in lower levels of these hormones. Insufficient sleep also affects the natural changes in blood pressure and can lead to hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

Myth 6: Your Body Adjusts Quickly to Different Sleep Schedules

• Anyone who has crossed several timezones on a transcontinental flight can vouch for this myth's falsehood, as can anyone who has switched from day shift to night shift work. Your body is designed to feel sleepy at night and wakeful during sunlight hours. You can adjust your body's natural clock by about one hour a day without experiencing adverse effects or excessive drowsiness, which means it can take up to a week or more to fully reverse your sleep schedule.

Myth 7: Extra Sleep at Night Reduces Daytime Fatigue

• If you are sleeping between seven and nine hours a night and still feel excessively tired during the day, or do not wake up feeling refreshed, you could be suffering from a sleep disorder. While naps can be effective in catching up on lost sleep at night, you should consult a doctor if you still feel tired or unrefreshed after a full night's sleep.

Myth 8: Children Experience the Same Effects of Sleep Deprivation as Adults

• When an adult does not get enough sleep at night, they may experience excessive sleepiness in the day. Children who do not sleep enough at night may seem excessively active and have problems concentrating or following instructions. Sometimes, continued sleep deprivation, resulting in hyperactivity, can lead children to be misdiagnosed with behavioral disorders like ADD and ADHD.

Myth 9: Difficulty Falling Asleep is the Only Symptom of Insomnia

• Many people believe that if they cannot fall asleep immediately, they have insomnia. Additionally, people believe that worry or stress is the only cause of insomnia. Both of these are false. Insomnia is also characterized by waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep, waking up feeling unrefreshed, waking frequently during the night, or experiencing an inability to stay asleep. Many medical conditions, like asthma, arthritis and depression can cause insomnia, as can certain medications. If you experience frequent insomnia, consult a doctor.

Myth 10: If You Wake in the Night, Stay in Bed Until You Fall Asleep

• While frequently waking at night can be a sign of insomnia, it is actually quite natural to wake up once. Before the advent of electricity, people generally slept in two phases: a three- to five-hour period followed by about an hour of wakefulness and another three- to five-hour period of sleep. As electricity pushed bed times later, people began having to force all their sleep into one period, but if you do wake during the night, you should not worry. If you do not fall back asleep within 20 minutes of waking, experts recommend getting up and engaging in a quiet or relaxing activity like reading until you feel tired again.