Myths and Facts About Sleep

Sleep science has developed significantly in the past 20 years, providing growing insight about how sleep works, why it’s important, and the ways that it can be disrupted.

Despite this advancing science, it remains common to encounter misinformation about sleep that is spread online, on social media, or by word-of-mouth. Some of this false information becomes repeated so often that it becomes a widely held myth.

Even though these sleep myths are contrary to scientific evidence, they are often believed and can lead to poor sleep habits and insufficient sleep.

In 2019, the National Sleep Foundation gathered a panel of experts to identify the most prominent and problematic sleep myths Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Reviewing these and other myths is an opportunity to learn the facts, set the record straight, and find ways to help get the sleep that you need.

Myth: Your Body Gets Used To Getting Less Sleep

Research has found that a lack of sleep takes a toll over both the short- and long-term, demonstrating that your brain and body can’t just get used to getting less sleep.

After a few nights of insufficient sleep, you’re likely to feel sleepier during the day. This increase in daytime drowsiness may stabilize over weeks or months without enough sleep, but this doesn’t mean that your body is functioning on all cylinders or is effectively adjusting to sleep loss.

Instead, persistent sleep deprivation affects daytime performance, harming decision-making, memory, focus, and creativity. With time, insufficient sleep can wreak havoc on diverse aspects of health Trusted Source National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. View Source including metabolism, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, hormone production, and mental health.

As a result, even if it seems like you are getting accustomed to sleeping too little, in reality, more serious health problems may be accumulating because of the body’s inability to get the rest it needs.

Myth: Many Adults Need Five or Less Hours of Sleep

Recommendations from a group of experts commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation state that adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

While a very small number of people — estimated at around one in four million — are believed to have a genetic mutation that allows them to naturally sleep for shorter periods and still wake up refreshed, these individuals are the rare exception, not the rule.

Myth: How Long You Sleep Is All That Matters

Sleep duration is important, but it’s not the end-all, be-all. Sleep quality is another critical factor to consider, and it is closely connected with sleep continuity Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and avoiding sleep disruptions.

Fragmented sleep marked by numerous awakenings can interfere with the ability to properly move through the sleep cycle Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , decreasing time spent in the most restorative stages of sleep. For this reason, every person’s goal should be to sleep enough hours and for those hours to include high-quality, uninterrupted sleep.

Myth: It Doesn’t Matter When You Sleep as Long as You Sleep Enough Hours

Studies have demonstrated that the timing of sleep matters, and it’s best to sleep as much as possible during hours of darkness. Sleeping at night helps align the body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, with its environment. Proper circadian timing is important for sleep quality Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and affects mental health, cardiovascular function, metabolism, and other key elements of overall health.

Myth: A Good Sleeper Doesn’t Move at Night

Minor movements of the body can occur during normal, healthy sleep. Movements during sleep are generally only a concern if they are one or more of the following:

• Prolonged or chronic
• Abnormal (such as sleepwalking)
• Aggressive or violent
• Bothersome to a bed partner
• Causing nighttime awakenings

Myth: Your Brain Shuts Down During Sleep

The brain remains active during sleep. Its patterns of activity change during different sleep stages, and in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, brain activity ramps up to a level that shares similarities with when you’re awake.

Far from shutting down, shifts in brain activity during sleep are believed to be part of why sleep is critical to effective thinking, memory, and emotional processing Trusted Source Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School A production of WGBH Educational Foundation and the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine. View Source .

Myth: Dreaming Only Happens During REM Sleep

The most intense dreams usually happen during REM sleep, but dreaming can occur during any sleep stage Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Dreams in REM and non-REM sleep usually have different content Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source with more vivid or bizarre dreams usually taking place during REM stages.

Myth: More Sleep Is Always Better

While most concerns about sleep duration focus on sleeping too little, there are also problems that can arise from sleeping too much.

People in specific circumstances, such as recovery from illness, may need extra sleep, but excessive sleep, in general, can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. In addition, studies have found higher rates of mortality Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in people who sleep too much, but more research is needed to better understand this association.

Myth: Snoring Isn’t Harmful and You Can’t Do Anything About It Anyway

Light, occasional snoring usually isn’t a problem, but loud and frequent snoring is often a cause for concern.

Chronic or loud snoring may be caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious breathing disorder that fragments sleep and prevents a person from taking in the oxygen their body needs. Snoring can also disrupt the sleep of a bed partner or roommate.

Various methods can address snoring depending on its cause. Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices that keep the airway open can help treat OSA. Anti-snoring mouthpieces and mouth exercises can help many people reduce or eliminate snoring, and in many cases, losing weight can cut down on snoring as well.

Myth: Adults Sleep More With Age

Older adults frequently sleep less than younger people. Aging can affect a person’s circadian rhythm Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and make it harder for them to sleep as long as they want. Other health problems that increase with age, such as arthritic pain, may also interfere with a good night’s sleep.

Myth: The Ability To Fall Asleep Anywhere and at Any Time Means You’re a “Good Sleeper”

Being able to fall asleep at any time and under any circumstances is a sign of having sleep problems, not of being a “good sleeper.”

This myth is dangerous because it puts a positive spin on excessive daytime sleepiness, which is usually a symptom of insomnia, insufficient sleep, or an underlying sleep disorder like sleep apnea. Sleeping at any time can also be tied to circadian rhythm disorders and narcolepsy.

As a sleeper, your goal shouldn’t be the ability to fall asleep in any situation. Instead, it should be to strive for a proper amount of high-quality sleep that occurs on a regular schedule that, whenever possible, involves sleeping at night in order to reinforce a healthy circadian rhythm.

Myth: Napping Makes up for Lack of Sleep at Night

While a quick nap can provide a boost of energy, it’s not a substitute for quality sleep at night, especially because it doesn’t involve moving through the stages of sleep in the same way as during nightly sleep.

Many people who get insufficient sleep try to use naps to catch up on sleep, but this often just throws their sleep schedule further out-of-whack by making it harder to fall asleep at a normal bedtime. Long naps can also mean waking up disoriented and sluggish.

Though napping isn’t necessarily bad, relying on naps to try to cope with regular sleep deprivation isn’t a winning approach. When you do need a nap, it’s best to keep it shorter than 30 minutes and early in the afternoon.

Myth: Teens Don’t Sleep Enough Only Because They Choose To Stay up Late

A significant number of teenagers, including up to 72% of high school students Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , get less than the recommended amount of sleep. In many cases, this is because their sleep schedule involves staying up later into the night.

However, this “night owl” tendency isn’t simply a matter of choice. Instead, it’s a reflection of biological changes Trusted Source Stanford Medicine A leader in the biomedical revolution, Stanford Medicine has a long tradition of leadership in pioneering research, creative teaching protocols, and effective clinical therapies. View Source that start around puberty that push the circadian rhythm of adolescents back by around two hours. Of course, individual choices to prioritize school and work obligations, social events, and screen time over sleep may exacerbate this biologically delayed sleep timing.

Because of the natural shift in circadian timing in teens, major organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics have called for school districts to push school start times back Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in order to give adolescents more time to get the sleep they need.

Myth: Turning up the Radio, Opening the Window, or Turning on the Air Conditioner Are Effective Ways To Stay Awake When Driving

Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous, and these “tricks” are ineffective and are especially worrisome if they keep a sleepy driver behind the wheel.

If you’re feeling tired while driving, the best and safest thing to do is pull off the road and into a safe area where you can nap for 15-30 minutes or simply stop for the night. Caffeinated drinks may help for a short period, but it can take time for caffeine to kick in. Even then, it’s risky to rely on caffeine to keep you alert when driving.

The best way to deal with drowsy driving is to prevent it in the first place by getting a good night’s sleep before your trip. When in doubt, err against driving if you’re at all sleepy because the consequences can be life-threatening to you and others on the road.

Myth: If You Can’t Sleep, It’s Best To Stay in Bed Until You Fall Back Asleep

Sleep experts recommend getting out of bed if you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes. Instead of tossing and turning in bed, it’s better to get up, do something relaxing in a quiet and dim setting (without using your cell phone or other electronic devices), and then try to go back to bed.

The reason experts advise this approach is that it’s important to associate your bed with sleep. Staying in bed while struggling to sleep can do the exact opposite, linking your bed with a feeling of frustration.

Myth: Alcohol Before Bed Improve Sleep

A drink or two can be relaxing, inducing drowsiness that makes it easier to initially fall asleep. The problem is that the quality of sleep declines considerably after drinking alcohol Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Consuming alcohol before going to bed can throw off your sleep cycles, make it more likely your sleep will be interrupted, and worsen snoring and sleep apnea.

Because of its negative effects on sleep, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption before bed is frequently recognized as an important part of sleep hygiene.

Myth: A Warmer Bedroom Is Best For Sleeping

Although a warm bedroom might feel cozier, studies indicate that it’s not ideal for sleep. Body temperature drops naturally as part of the physical process of sleep, and a bedroom that’s too hot may disrupt that process. Sleeping hot can be bothersome and interfere with sleep Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source by causing unwanted awakenings.

It’s important to find a bedroom temperature that’s comfortable for you, but most people sleep best in a room in the mid-60s Fahrenheit.

Myth: Exercising at Night Disturbs Sleep

Data from surveys and research studies indicates that even vigorous exercise at night does not usually affect sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . In fact, working out at night helps many people sleep better.

That said, for some people, it may not be beneficial to do extremely intense workouts immediately before going to bed as this may make it hard for your body to relax and settle into sleep.

Myth: Hitting Snooze Provides Meaningful Extra Rest

The Snooze bar can provide what seems like precious minutes to keep sleeping between alarms, but this time is unlikely to offer meaningful rest. Fragmented sleep is generally not restorative, so you shouldn’t count on hitting snooze to help you wake up more refreshed.

Myth: Sleeping With a Light on Is Harmless

Even when you’re in bed with your eyes closed, low light can increase the risk of awakenings and may have negative effects on circadian rhythm Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Studies have also found that sleeping with too much light in your bedroom can increase eye strain Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and may be associated with notable weight gain Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

To promote higher-quality sleep and a more stable circadian rhythm, it’s best to sleep in a bedroom that’s as close to pitch darkness as possible.