Sleep science is an ever-developing topic in the modern world, especially as the way we move through life is transforming to become more fast-paced and digitally focused. Despite the knowledge scientists have discovered about sleep, it’s easy for false or misleading information to spread like wildfire, more so in the realms of sleep as we continue to tackle the struggles of leading busy lives and find remedies to make getting a good night’s sleep that little bit more achievable.
There are a number of sleep myths circulating, and we thought it was about time they were put to bed. Continue reading below to find some of the most common misconceptions, and the facts we really need to know.
Common Sleep Misconceptions & Their Factual Counterparts
Myth: Your Body Becomes Accustomed to Lack of Sleep
Fact: Lack of sleep impacts your brain and body considerably.
Your body cannot get used to receiving little to no sleep, if anything, this has a major impact on the function of your brain, as well as your body. But these fun facts about sleep go deeper. Ill function of the brain and body can interrupt the way you get by day-to-day, especially if you’re a working adult, or someone studying at university, or going to school. Fatigue becomes a major struggle, brain fog, disorientation and mind blanks are just a few of the issues you can experience from lacking quality sleep.
Myth: Sleep Duration Overrides Sleep Quality
Fact: Duration of sleep is important, but not more important than the quality of sleep.
Getting a long nights sleep is desirable, of course, who doesn’t want to hit the hay at 9:30pm and wake up refreshed after hours of blissful rest. In saying that, a long night of sleep isn’t always a comfortable one and can be overshadowed by the lack of quality sleep you received. If you’re not sleeping ‘well’, you’re going to wake up feeling groggy and moody; this is why ‘quality over quantity’ is a common phrase, which is very relevant to the world of sleep misconceptions.
Myth: Alcohol Before Bed Improves Sleep
Fact: Quality of sleep worsens after drinking alcohol.
Consuming alcohol before you go to bed, or even close to the time that you’re heading to bed, can have a considerable impact on your sleep cycles. This being able to assist in you falling asleep is one of the more dangerous sleep myths people tend to believe. Yes, a couple of drinks can make you feel relaxed, and oftentimes induces drowsiness, however, once you finally fall asleep, your body’s natural sleep cycle will suffer interruptions throughout the night, and snoring or sleep apnoea may worsen.
Myth: Humans Ingest Spiders in Their Sleep
Fact: We do not eat spiders when we sleep.
This specific sleep myth has been around since many of us were children and had a lot of us paranoid about what goes on when we doze off at night. Well, good news. You no longer have to fear spiders crawling into your mouth when you’re enjoying a good night of rest, as there is no evidence to suggest that spiders target us when we’re asleep. Even more so it’s unlikely a person would swallow a spider while asleep. It’s no secret that when spiders and humans come into contact, spiders run away!
Myth: You Can Catch Up On Sleep
Fact: You cannot. But lack of sleep can catch up to you.
One of the most popular fun facts about sleep is that catching up on rest does not exist. Sleep deprivation is an accumulation of what is referred to as ‘sleep debt’, which is impossible to essentially repay. This means lost sleep can not be remedied by sleeping more or sleeping more at another time of the day; and naps cannot make up for the sleep you lost last night. Whilst a quick or ‘power nap’ can provide individuals with a boost of more energy throughout the day, it’s definitely not a substitute for getting the right amount of sleep, or quality of sleep, you need to get at night. How does this work? Think of the progression your body and brain go through in one night. A nap can not provide your body with these required sleep stages:
- Drowsiness
- Light sleep
- Moderate sleep
- Deep Sleep
- REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement – the most important)
Forget Sleep Myths & Focus on Quality Rest with Wenatex
Sleep facts are important to keep in mind, and we’re glad we could clear the air on some of the most common ones we know. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your quality of sleep, we offer orthopaedic beds and other helpful accessories within our Wenatex shop online. For more information on our products, or if you just have some general queries, give us a call on 1300 858 139 or reach out via email at enquiries@wenatex.com.au.
