5 Sleep myths that can impact your health and well-being

We all understand that sleep is linked to our well-being, mood, and our health, and that It may lead to poor performance in the short-term. But poor sleep can be more than simply feeling sluggish in the morning. Regular sleep deprivation can cause major health concerns. 

According to sleep experts, we need to be more educated about our sleep habits and let’s debunk some myths. We know that many of us are concerned with sleep health, despite having greater access to sleep knowledge than ever before.

Misinformation regarding sleep is still widespread, whether it’s communicated online, on social media, or through word-of-mouth. 

Incorrect sleep information may be harmful to your health and well-being, so let’s review these myths and share some ways to help get the sleep that you need.

Sleep Myth #1 Getting More Sleep Is Better

While most sleep concerns center on sleeping too little, did you know there are also issues that might come from sleeping too much?

Hypersomnia or sleeping too much, can be just as hazardous for you as Insomnia, or not sleeping enough. In fact, oversleeping is associated with many of the same health issues as not getting enough sleep.

People who are recovering from sickness may require additional sleep, but excessive sleep in general might be an indication of a health condition. If you habitually sleep for nine hours or more every night and still don’t feel refreshed in the morning, speak to your doctor as you may have an underlying sleep disorder.

Sleep Myth #2 Staying in Bed if You Are Having a Hard Time Falling Asleep

Staying in bed is actually the worst thing you can do if you can’t sleep even if you have tried several tactics like counting sheep. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, sleep experts recommend getting out of bed. Instead of tossing and turning in bed, try geting up, do something quiet and relaxing, a dim light environment, and then attempt to get back to sleep.

The idea is that it can divert your attention away from sleep for a few minutes in order to promote a sleep onset when you return to bed.

Sleep Myth #3 Drinking Alcohol Before Bed Can Help You Sleep Better

Even though alcohol has sedative effects, drinking a glass or two can be calming, inducing drowsiness that makes it easier to fall asleep… at first. The problem is that the quality of your sleep can suffer after consuming alcohol.

Sleep problems are widespread among people who rely on alcohol to get to sleep, and alcohol usage has been linked to disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm irregularities.

Because of the overall negative impact it has on sleep, limiting or eliminating alcohol use before bedtime is acknowledged as an important aspect of sleep hygiene.

Sleep Myth #4 Hitting the Snooze Button for Extra Rest

If you didn’t get enough sleep, the last thing you want to do in the morning is keep pushing the snooze button. You may think that snoozing can give you valuable minutes of sleep in between alarms, but this time is unlikely to produce significant rest. Deep sleep is required to feel relaxed in the morning, which we cannot get by clicking the snooze button.

So if you do set an alarm, do you best to get up with your alarm so you can decrease sleep inertia and be better ready to face the day.

Sleep Myth #5 You Can Function Better with Less Than 5 Hours of Sleep

We lead such busy lives these days and some would regard sleep as a hindrance, stopping them from doing things they need to get done. Some even seem proud about how they can manage with only a few hours of sleep.

But often you’ll feel sleepier during the day after a few nights of poor sleep. Without proper sleep, this increase in daytime sleepiness may settle over weeks or months. This doesn’t mean that your body has successfully adjusted to the lack of sleep. But being regularly sleep deprived, on the other hand, has a negative impact on your daily performance, affecting your decision-making, and memory.

So even if it appears that you are becoming accustomed to sleeping too little, your body’s inability to obtain the rest it requires may be collecting more significant health problems.

Have any of these sleep myths hindered you from getting the rest you need? 

An adjustable massage bed can also help with getting the best amount of rest our body needs. We all deserve a good night’s sleep… every night.