Top Sleep Myths
Attention, mythbusters! Time to crack open the top sleep myths:
The first myth: There’s no such thing as a beauty sleep. That’s false. A new study from Sweden found that getting enough sleep does makes you more attractive. Volunteers rated the attractiveness of men and women on the basis of photographs. There were two photos of each participant. One taken after a good night’s sleep……And another taken after they were awake for 31 hours straight. The result? Volunteers rated the photos of people taken after a good night’s sleep as dramatically more attractive, and healthy than the sleep-deprived pics.
Another sleep myth: We need less sleep as we get older. That’s bogus. Even though a lot of people think that seniors only need a few hours of sleep every night, experts say that all adults need 7 hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. But seniors may have a harder time staying asleep because of fluctuating hormones.
Then, beware of a nightcap! Experts warn that drinking a glass of wine or a beer before bed may make it easier to doze off, but you’ll wake up once your system metabolizes the alcohol. Instead, it’ll only backfire. That’s because alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle.
The final sleep myth: The more sleep, the better. That’s false. Harvard University researchers say that like anything else, you need sleep in moderation. For example, one study found that senior adults older who slept at least nine hours a night had a much higher risk for dementia than those who didn’t. Also, other research shows that constant nine-hour nights increase rates of depression, illness and accidents. On the flip side, regularly snoozing less than six hours a night boosts your risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease to stay healthy: Aim for 7 hours of sleep every night.
The first myth: There’s no such thing as a beauty sleep. That’s false. A new study from Sweden found that getting enough sleep does makes you more attractive. Volunteers rated the attractiveness of men and women on the basis of photographs. There were two photos of each participant. One taken after a good night’s sleep……And another taken after they were awake for 31 hours straight. The result? Volunteers rated the photos of people taken after a good night’s sleep as dramatically more attractive, and healthy than the sleep-deprived pics.
Another sleep myth: We need less sleep as we get older. That’s bogus. Even though a lot of people think that seniors only need a few hours of sleep every night, experts say that all adults need 7 hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. But seniors may have a harder time staying asleep because of fluctuating hormones.
Then, beware of a nightcap! Experts warn that drinking a glass of wine or a beer before bed may make it easier to doze off, but you’ll wake up once your system metabolizes the alcohol. Instead, it’ll only backfire. That’s because alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle.
The final sleep myth: The more sleep, the better. That’s false. Harvard University researchers say that like anything else, you need sleep in moderation. For example, one study found that senior adults older who slept at least nine hours a night had a much higher risk for dementia than those who didn’t. Also, other research shows that constant nine-hour nights increase rates of depression, illness and accidents. On the flip side, regularly snoozing less than six hours a night boosts your risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease to stay healthy: Aim for 7 hours of sleep every night.
