Myths – and Facts – About Sleep

We all need sleep.   It is good for our health and our attitude.   There are some misconceptions out there that the National Sleep Foundation is clearing up.

Snoring in most cases isn’t a big deal.      More common with men but women can and do snore.

Sleep apnea is a serious issue.   Snoring and paused breathing are signs of sleep apnea.   If you stop breathing at night and then are suddenly jerked awake to start your breathing up you may have sleep apnea.   This condition is serious.   See your doctor if it’s accompanied by daytime drowsiness or sleepiness.

It is hard to payback a sleep debt.   Not getting adequate sleep throughout the week or weekend thinking you can catch up later is difficult if not impossible.   Sleep deprivation is linked to numerous issues: obesity, high blood pressure, decreased productivity and driving safety, to name a few.

Sleepy teenagers aren’t lazy.   Falling asleep in class, not your best in the morning has more to do with your biological clock than anything else.   Teenagers don’t function their best in the morning.

Tired when you are driving?   Rolling down the window or turning on the radio is not the solution.   Pull off the road and take a quick 15 to 45 minute nap.

Sleep patterns change throughout your life.   Seniors may need less nighttime sleep but they still need those 7 to 9 hours that most adults require.

Your brain needs rest.   But it does not rest when you sleep.   It is active.   Sleep is rest for your body.

Key Points:

  • 1Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea and can present a larger problem.
  • 2Most people need between seven to nine hours of sleep to be functional.
  • 3While turning on the radio when tired may seem to keep you awake, it only distracts you and may cause more problems.


Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing that prevent air from flowing into or out of a sleeping person’s airways.


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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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