NYU study demystifies myths about sleep health: TV, alcohol, siestas, snoring

After reviewing more than 8,000 websites, researchers at the New York University School of Medicine identified 20 sleep myths and debunked them with the help of a scale of "falseness" and a panel of sleep experts.

"Sleep is a vital part of life that affects our productivity, our mood, and our overall health and well-being," said Rebecca Robbins, Principal Investigator and Postdoctoral Researcher at NYU Langone Health. "Dispelling the myths about sleep promotes healthier sleep patterns, which, in turn, promote better overall health."

Myths included sleep duration, sleep duration, sleep behaviors, sleep-related diurnal behaviors, pre-sleep behaviors, brain function, and sleep.

They included "during sleep, the brain is not active", "sleep over the weekend is a good way to make sure you sleep enough" and "a lot of adults n & # 39; Need only five hours or less of sleep for their general health.

SnoringAlthough cited as annoying for bed partners, it was also perceived as "somewhat harmless" in research. The researchers said that snoring was the main symptom of obstructive sleep apnea and that it could lead to a high risk of cardiovascular problems in people.

Take a nap in the afternoon has also been debunked as unhealthy when it is usual. Researchers say it's because napping can allow nighttime insomnia.

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Alcohol The researchers said it should not be considered a sleep aid because it often causes sleep disturbances in the second half of the night and can have a negative impact on REM sleep.

The idea that press the snooze button could be better than waking up when the alarm rings for the first time was also found to be wrong. Such sleep fragmentation can reduce "mental flexibility" and negatively affect mood, according to the study.

Watch television before going to bed, exercising in the four hours before bedtime and keeping a warmer room for a better sleep were also found to be wrong.

Some myths have provoked disagreements among experts, and the authors of the study suggest continuing research.

One-third of US adults report not getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For adults, it's at least seven hours a night.