Gaby
Are you counting sheep every night or sipping on alcohol to quickly drift off into the arms of Morpheus? These and other folk remedies are just myths that can easily be debunked. Among the sleep specialists who believe this is Dr. Lindsey Browning from the British Sleep Society.
Counting Sheep
Parents often recommend this hack to their little ones when they can’t fall asleep. According to Lindsey Browning, it might help a two-year-old, but it’s not effective for adults.
Cheese Before Bed – A Recipe for Nightmares
This is a misconception, according to the expert. Cheese contains tryptophan, which our bodies use to produce melatonin – the sleep hormone.
As for nightmares, they can occur simply because the stomach is full of any food.
Drinking Alcohol at Night
While alcohol can induce drowsiness, it can disrupt the natural sleep cycle, leading to poorer sleep quality.
It’s best to stop drinking alcohol at least four hours before bedtime.
Making Up for Lost Sleep with Daytime Naps
Napping during the day can be a good idea when someone feels exhausted in the afternoon.
However, Dr. Browning states that daytime napping cannot replace regular nighttime sleep and may actually lead to insomnia.
You Can Never Have Too Much Sleep
This is false. Oversleeping can lead to various health issues, such as obesity and stroke.
According to Ms. Browning, if someone sleeps for an extended period, it often indicates poor sleep quality. Ten hours of bad sleep doesn’t restore energy like, for example, seven hours of good sleep does.
Lying in Bed When You Can’t Sleep
This is a poor strategy, according to the expert. If sleep doesn’t come within 20 minutes, it’s better to get out of bed and take a break with a book or listen to some pleasant music.
Staying in bed while futilely trying to fall asleep can have the opposite effect: it can lead to anxiety.
Watching TV Before Bed
This method for quickly falling asleep is quite harmful. The bright light emitted by the television interferes with melatonin production in the brain. As a result, circadian rhythms can be disrupted, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Falling Asleep in a Warm Room
The belief that you should sleep in a warm room is misleading, according to sleep specialists. The ideal temperature for a bedroom is between 16-19°C.
Lindsey Browning recommends opening a window at night to let in a cool breeze, which can improve sleep quality.
