A new study has dispelled all common sleep myths. Find out what they are
| Apr 17, 2019, 16:44 IST
A good night’s sleep is quite possibly the most underrated requirement for one’s good health. You will often find people claiming that they can get by comfortably with five or fewer hours of sleep. Others will tell you that snoring is harmless and the rest of the one will say having a drink helps them sleep. Basically, despite its importance, they are more myths about sleep floating around than real facts.
"Sleep is a vital part of life that affects our productivity, mood, and general health and well-being. Dispelling myths about sleep promotes healthier sleep habits which, in turn, promote overall better health," said Rebecca Robbins, lead researcher of the study published in the Journal of Sleep Health.
The first myth to be dispelled off was people claiming they can get by with 5 hours of sleep. There enough scientific evidence to suggest that 5 hours of sleep doesn’t cut it for our body. In fact if you do so, you may be posing some serious risk to your health.
There’s another common myth about snoring. Most people think it’s harmless. If only! While it can be harmless in most cases, Robins also says it could be a cause of sleep apnea. a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing starts and stops over the course of the night. The authors encourage patients not to dismiss loud snoring, but rather to see a doctor since this sleep behaviour may lead to heart stoppages or other illnesses.
The researchers also found enough evidence to prove that contrary to popular belief, an alcoholic beverage before going to be is unhealthy. Experts say it reduces the body’s ability to achieve deep sleep, which people need to function properly.
The researchers acknowledge that some myths still cause disagreement among sleep experts. For instance, although sleeping in on weekends does disrupt the natural circadian rhythm, for people in certain professions, such as shift workers, it may be better for them to sleep in than to get fewer hours of sleep overall.