We spend a third of our life sleeping, so it is normal for our interest in this natural process to be great. Scientists are constantly trying to discover why we need sleep and what exactly happens when we travel to the world of dreams.
Here are some of the most common myths about sleep and the facts behind them:
Myth: The afternoon nap is a waste of time
Fact: If you are not asleep, nothing can refresh you better than an afternoon nap. Of course, you can’t compensate for the short sleep at night, but you will regain your energy and you can complete the day without problems. The only thing to look out for is that the nap does not last more than 45 minutes, because then you will feel drowsy.
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Myth: If you can’t fall asleep, lie down until you are asleep
Fact: Rare are the nights when you put your head on a pillow and immediately sink into a deep sleep. More and more people are struggling to fall asleep because of stress, anxiety and the problems they face every day. When you can’t fall asleep, it’s good to linger for 15-20 minutes and give your maximum to relax. But if you can’t fall asleep, get out of bed because you risk anxiety and frustration. Experts advise in such a case to get out of bed and listen to relaxation music or read a book. When you feel that your eyes are starting to close, go back to bed.
Myth: Everyone should sleep 8 hours a day
Fact: 8 is not a magical, but an average number of hours needed for a person to sleep and function normally. Although Thomas Edison was sleeping 4 hours, and Bill Clinton claims that he slept 4-5 hours, you are unlikely to be part of people who can sleep less, and function normally without disturbing their health. Scientists estimate that only 10% of people are “programmed” to sleep more or less than the recommended 7-8 hours. To find out what your magic number is, choose one day in which you feel fresh and full of energy and remember how many hours you slept the previous night. Or, sleep one night for 9 hours and then lower 15 minutes of sleep time each day and observe how you feel. This way you can easily find out how much sleep you need.
Myth: The lack of sleep will bring you extra weight
Fact: Not once has been confirmed that sleep affects body weight. Sleep actually affects certain hormones, specifically leptin and ghrelin, which in turn affect appetite. Ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite, and the hormone leptin sends a signal to the brain when you’re full. If you do not sleep enough, the level of leptin decreases, and the level of ghrelin in the body increases. It usually leads to overeating and increased body weight.
Myth: It does not matter what time you go to bed
Fact: It is more likely that “night birds” show symptoms of depression than those who go to bed earlier, even when sleeping the same number of hours. Research has shown that going to bed late can not only cause depression, but can also bring you a bad mood and affect your overall health negatively. If you want to start to fall asleep before, go to bed fifteen minutes earlier than the previous day. You will gradually change your sleeping habit.
Myth: Teens need a longer sleep
Fact: Teenagers need to sleep on average from 8 and a half to a little over 9 hours, and the average adult needs about 7-8 hours. It’s normal for teenagers to sleep more.