Sleep science is a big deal.
People spend a lot of time and money studying how to improve sleep.
The science is important because there are a lot of false beliefs about sleep out there.
The bad part about misinformation is that some people take it as truth, and it can be bad for their health.
Here are some common myths and the facts to correct those myths.
Snoring, although common, is not harmful.
Snoring is nothing more than an annoyance for many people.
However, for anyone with sleep apnea, snoring can be quite harmful.
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes pauses in breathing during sleep.
This means that there is not a constant airflow going in and out of a person's body during sleep.
The problem is that pauses in breathing can create a lack of oxygen to the body and put stress on the heart.
It is common for people with sleep apnea to wake in the middle of the night trying to get a breath.
Doctors have found that obesity can lead to sleep apnea.
This condition is treatable.
If you have a snoring problem, it may be best to consult a doctor.
Getting less sleep than recommended is okay.
Sleep is where the body recharges from the long day.
Sleep is necessary for your body to function well.
Doctors urge people to sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night.
If you get less than this amount, it adds up and rolls over until you get sufficiently caught up.
Being overtired adds to stress, high blood pressure, unhappiness and other health related issues.
Little tricks like a loud radio and open window can keep you awake while driving.
Driving while overtired is extremely dangerous.
Do not put your life in the hands of something like turning up the radio.
Pull off the road and get some sleep before you drive any further.
Even a short nap will do wonders to revive your body and mind.
Coffee and sodas with caffeine are okay for a bit, but soon they can do nothing to fight off overtiredness.
Make sure you get plenty of sleep before driving on long trips.
Teenagers Who Sleep in Class are Bad News Teenagers need even more sleep than adults, between 8.
5 hours and 9.
25 hours every night.
Biologically teenagers tend to stay awake later at night anyway.
Schools start on an early schedule, putting teenage biology at a disadvantage.
This schedule brings many students to class without enough sleep.
Insomnia is All About Not Being Able to Sleep.
People think that not being able to sleep means they have insomnia.
The truth is that insomnia has four symptoms and not sleeping is just one of those four.
The four symptoms are waking up early and not being able to fall back asleep, waking up frequently, waking up feeling tired, and not being able to fall asleep.
Insomnia may be part of a larger sleep disorder or even a psychiatric problem.
These problems can be treated.
Most people report that they suffer from at least one of these symptoms.
It is guaranteed that at some point in time you will have trouble sleeping.
Consult a doctor if the problems become commonplace and start having a negative effect on your day.
If you are tired during the day it means you didn't sleep enough the night before.
If you are tired during the daytime hours, even after a night of full rest, it doesn't necessarily mean you aren't getting enough sleep.
Sometimes daytime drowsiness can indicate a sleep disorder or some other problem.
Doctors can treat these conditions and the result can leave you feeling refreshed for the day.
The main problem with daytime sleepiness is that it can prove to be dangerous and also affect your employment and family life.
Getting quality sleep has nothing to do with problems like obesity and depression.
Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your general health.
People who don't get enough sleep can end up having numerous problems.
Studies have shown that lack of sleep can directly affect weight issues and blood pressure issues.
Blood pressure becomes lower when the body is at complete rest.
Without this rest blood pressure stays at a higher rate.
Drowsiness can also hamper the body's ability to correctly use insulin for diabetes.
These are just a few examples of health problems that can occur due to lack of sufficient sleep.
When you get older you don't need all those hours of sleep.
Many people believe this because as we age we tend to wake earlier.
Sleeping patterns do change as we age.
We may have a harder time sleeping or staying asleep, but that doesn't mean we don't need the same amount of sleep.
You will notice that as people get older they make up for lost night sleep by taking naps during the day.
Naps are a great way to catch up and get the rest your body needs to function.
Your brain sleeps as you sleep.
The majority of your body does rest as you sleep.
Your brain isn't really resting, though.
The brain is being plugged in to the re-charger as you sleep.
Our brain is still working and thinking as we sleep.
Even when we are in the deepest REM cycle, our brains keep cooking.
Think about how you dream at night.
That is your mind working.
There are other times when waking up is very difficult, that is when your body is in a deep sleep and your muscles are totally relaxed.
Other moments in sleep are not deep and you could wake at any instant.
Your brain is working the entire time.
In order to fall back asleep after you wake, stay in bed and lie there until you fall asleep again.
We've all fallen asleep and then woken up in the middle of the night.
Sometimes it takes a long time to fall back asleep.
This is valuable sleep time wasted.
The best thing to do at this moment is get relaxed.
Lots of times getting out of bed to read a book or listen to music is the right tonic for this problem.
Don't engage your mind too much; the idea is to get relaxed again so your body wants to fall asleep.