When it comes to sleep, the easiest consensus to arrive at for most people is that we could all use more of it.
What else should we know? Globalnews.ca turned to two experts to help us demystify the science around this precious commodity most of us take for granted.
What else should we know? Globalnews.ca turned to two experts to help us demystify the science around this precious commodity most of us take for granted.
1. Sleep quality gets worse as we get older: False.
According to Michael Decker, PhD., associate professor at Georgia State University and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, this is simply not true. He says if you’re not feeling refreshed, you most likely have a sleeping disorder, as most people don’t recognize they a have a sleeping disorder. Eighty per cent of all sleeping disorders are yet to be diagnosed, says Decker.
2. Eight hours of sleep is what most people should get each night: It depends.
According to Peter Backx, professor of Physiology and Medicine at the University of Toronto, clearly insufficient sleep creates health risks but the number of hours that constitutes "insufficient" is dependent on many factors. Dr. Decker also says total sleep time is genetically determined. According to Blackx, many health professionals and those that study sleep believe that the adult body needs a minimum of eight hours of sleep.
3. Sleep deprivation can lead to weight issues: True.
Decker says there is real science behind the studies that show a lack of sleep leads to insulin resistance, which is one of the first steps to becoming diabetic.
4. Napping is bad: True.
Decker says naps can disrupt the next night of sleep as we build-up a drive for sleep. He says if you take a nap in the early afternoon or late at night, you release some of that drive for sleep. In general, if allowed, the body will take the sleep it requires, says Blackx.
5. Contiguous sleep is better than interrupted sleep. Not sure.
Decker says there is a critical period of five hours of sleep that our brain needs. The amount of sleep we need is based on prior sleep history and genetics. According to Blackx, many health professionals and those that study sleep would say that the adult body needs a minimum of eight hours of sleep.
6. Depression and sleep are linked: True.
Abnormalities in REM are frequently observed in patients with depression. Disturbances of sleep are typical for most depressed patients and belong to the core symptoms of the disorder. Depression is associated with requiring more hours of sleep, says Blackx.
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