Health Lifestyle Health lifestyle is good for you!
Sleep is one of the easiest ways to make us feel better and more alert, as well as restoring our health and general wellbeing.
Despite this we have those nights, when we toss and turn and glance over at the clock every 5 minutes worrying about the sleep we are missing out on.
Below are a list of ten myths debunked, which are commonly believed to be true. Accompanied with the best ways guaranteeing you get a good nights sleep.
1. Every Adult needs around 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night This is not entirely true despite most people sleeping around 7 or 8 hours a night, people have been know to sleep as long as ten hours per night and as little as five. Instead of chasing the average, find out how many hours suits you and stick at that.
2. We should try to make up for all our lost sleep on subsequent nights This is never advisable as your sleep pattern will become disrupted and although come Monday morning you will feel refreshed, you will slump mid-afternoon. Instead stick to balanced routine and try not to sleep more than an extra two hours at the weekend.
3. The older you are the less sleep you need. An adult needs the same amount of sleep throughout their life. However when you’re older it may become more difficult to sleep, it becomes lighter and fragmented, it is also easier to be awaken.
4. Waking up during the night means you’ll be tired all day. Just 90 minutes less than usual will make you noticeably more tired during the day, and it will affect your reaction time and ability to fight off infections· A sleep debt will build up if your interrupted sleep is consistent, making you feel excessively tired.
5. Naps are a waste of time. A full nights sleep cannot be replaced however a power nap can restore you and make you feel more alert to a certain extent. Napping after 3pm can affect your sleeping pattern later that even.
6. A good workout in the evening will make you tired so you’ll fall asleep faster. Exercise is better earlier in the day as it elevates temperature causing it to stay high for hours which may result in you being unable to sleep.
7. It’s good to hang out in your bedroom at night, before you go to sleep, because it will get you “ready” to fall asleep. It is always best to get a routine before going to bed, this way your body recognises the routine with sleeping so will relax and cool itself down. This way it will be quicker and a lot easier for you to fall asleep.
8. Eating before bedtime will cause nightmares There is no medical evidence to prove that certain foods, such as cheese causes nightmares. However eating before bed will hinder digestion and will cause discomfort, therefore resulting in a interrupted and uncomfortable sleep.
9. Snoring is the same as Sleep Apnea It is a common misunderstanding that Snoring is the same as Sleep Apnea when in fact this most serious of the two, Sleep Apnea can cause the sleeper to stop breathing several times a night. Medical experts advise that sufferers use a CPAP mask as they keep airways open as you sleep.
10. Watching TV in my bedroom and working on my laptop in bed helps me wind down and fall asleep. Any type of activity which requires you to concentrate, is counter-productive when trying to sleep. It prevents your body from relaxing and keeps your body alert. It is also recommended that you keep your bedroom mainly for sleeping.
Ensuring you get a good nights sleep will have a drastic impact on your body and general health. If you still struggle with sleeping, try not to panic and seek advice from your family doctor.
