6 Misconceptions about Sleep

After a day of work or study, you are very tired. Going home, taking a hot bath and then going to bed is a very happy thing. However, everyone has various questions about sleep, such as snoring, drooling, dreaming, etc. There are also misunderstandings about sleep, which probably not many people know. How can we have a healthy sleep? How long is the best sleep every day? With these questions, read this article with the Popular Health Network.

Myth 1: Dreaming means you didn’t sleep well

Dreaming is actually very normal. It is a common physiological phenomenon. Everyone will dream during sleep, about four times a night. If we feel energetic the next day, we should not think that we did not sleep well.

Myth 2: More sleep is better for your health

Some office workers like to "catch up on sleep" on weekends, but later find that their mental state on weekends is not as good as usual. Experts believe that the amount of sleep each person needs each day varies greatly, which is related to many factors such as a person's personality, health, work environment, labor intensity, and personal sleeping habits. 5% of people need less than 6 hours of sleep a day, while another 5% of the population needs more than 10 hours of sleep a day. Most people sleep 7-8 hours per night.

Myth 3: Drinking alcohol can induce sleep

In real life, many people drink a little alcohol before going to bed, thinking that it will help them fall asleep quickly. Experts believe that this practice is not advisable. During sleep, harmful substances in alcohol accumulate in the body, poisoning the body, damaging the retina, and reducing the body's ability to adapt.

Myth 4: You don’t need a nap

Many people do not have the habit of taking a nap, and some even think that it is not necessary. In fact, this idea is wrong. Naps can be very helpful in coordinating the biological clock and the 24-hour cycle, but we need to be careful not to take too long, fifteen minutes is best. Studies have found that taking naps can prevent aging and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.

Myth 5: Sleep disorders are not a disease

It is understood that 8% of people have sleep disorders to varying degrees in their lifetime. In most cases, poor sleep may have reached the level of a disease. For a small number of people with sleep disorders, it may be a manifestation of certain diseases that have not yet appeared or have already appeared.

Myth 6: Taking sleeping pills will definitely lead to dependence

Many patients are afraid of sleeping pills and refuse to take them, resulting in their condition becoming worse. If you really can't sleep for several consecutive days, it's okay to use some medication to help you fall asleep under the guidance of a doctor. With the development of medicine, many new sedatives and hypnotic drugs with small side effects have been continuously launched and put into clinical use. They generally do not cause dependence and are relatively safe. Moreover, refusing to take medicine for insomnia is much more harmful to your health than taking medicine! Sleep is an essential physiological need of human beings. When you suffer from insomnia, your body cannot get enough rest, which can lead to endocrine disorders, impaired body functions, weakened physical fitness, mental and physical fatigue during the day, and cause anxiety and depression disorders, which affect your work and life.