A List Of The Top Ten Sleep Myths And Misconceptions Debunked And Explained

Sleeping is one of the easiest ways to refresh us and making us feel generally better, as well as generally improving our health and wellbeing.

However we have all experienced those nights, when we toss and turn and glance over at the clock every 5 minutes worrying about how much sleep we are going to get.

Below are a list of ten sleep myths, which are widely believed. Accompanied with ideas and tips to make sure you get a good nights sleep.

1.Every Adult needs around 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night This is not entirely true although being advisable and the average, there have been cases of people sleeping for ten hours or as little as five. Instead of trying to get the average, find out what suits you best and stick to that.

2.We should try to make up for all our lost sleep on subsequent nights Sleep experts don't advise this as your sleep pattern will become disrupted and although you will wake up feeling refreshed Monday morning, you will slump Mid-afternoon. Instead stick to a balanced sleep pattern, sleep on average the same each night and not sleeping more than an extra two hours at the weekend.

3.The older you are the less sleep you need. However when you're older it may become more difficult to sleep, you may be woken up easier by the slightest noise and your sleep pattern fragmented.

4.Waking up during the night means you'll be tired all day. Just 90 minutes less sleep than usual will make you noticeably more sleepy during the day, and it will affect your reaction time and ability to fight off infections· If this disrupted sleep is consistent a sleep debt will build up making you feel excessively tired.

5.Naps are a waste of time. Nothing can replace a full nights sleep however a quick power nap can restore your alertness and ability to complete tasks quicker. Although a nap after 3pm can affects your sleep pattern that evening.

6.A good workout in the evening will make you tired so you'll fall asleep faster. Exercise is better in the day or at least 4 hours before you sleep as it elevates temperature which will stay high for hours hindering a persons sleep pattern. Some people do find it does help as they feel more tired so it is easier to fall asleep, so find out what's best for you.

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. Its all part of getting into a routine before going to sleep, your body recognises that you are preparing yourself for sleep and gets your body ready. This way it will be easier for you to drift off.

8.Eating before bedtime will cause nightmares It has not yet been proven that certain foods do cause nightmares. However eating shortly before bedtime will affect digestion and cause discomfort, therefore causing a difficult and uncomfortable sleep.

9.Snoring is the same as Sleep Apnea It is a common misconception 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. It is advised to 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 be alert, is counter-productive when trying to sleep. It prevents your body from relaxing instead keeping it alert. It is also advised that you keep your bedroom primarily for sleeping.

Ensuring you get a decent nights sleep will generally improve your well-being and health. If you still can't seem to get a full nights sleep, dont panic and visit your GP for more advice.