Sleep Facts – 36 Interesting Facts About Sleep

Sleeping Facts

Nightmares are a set of sleep disorders also known as parasomnias and can occur with a broad range of unwanted actions like sleepwalking, enuresis, grinding teeth, murmuring, etc.

A study by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 32% of US citizens suffer from snoring.

Loud and chronic snoring could be an indication of something serious and an even life-threatening condition known as obstructive sleep apnea.

It leads to the body being starved of Oxygen and could precipitate hypertension and even a heart attack.

In the US watching TV is the most popular pre-sleep activity, and the, the gleaming light and steady background noise serves as an aid to help a mind fall asleep.

Research, however, points to the opposite. Watching TV before falling asleep causes many physiological problems. The blue light emitted by the TV screen makes our body stop producing melatonin which makes us feel alerted and awake.

Alcohol serves as a natural sedative, and it is believed that a glass of wine before bed will help get a good night sleep. However as the alcohol is metabolized in the body sleep becomes lighter, and the chances of wakefulness increase.

It is a myth that older people do not need to sleep as much as young people. Elders do have problems in falling asleep but this is due to their frail medical condition, alteration in their circadian rhythm and hence they spend less time sleeping.

Daytime naps are often regarded as a sign of laziness. However, studies have proved that pilots who took a 25-minute nap worked more efficiently than those who worked without rest.

Teenagers are often seen as lazy and hate leaving bed early. Blame it on a disorder known as delayed sleep phase disorder. During puberty, there is a 2 to 3 hours delay in the circadian rhythm. A teenager, therefore, needs 9 to 10 hours sleep as opposed to 7 to 8 hours which is enough for an adult.