From sleepwalking to eating spiders
Five well-known sleep myths under the microscope
Do women really sleep worse than men?
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We spend about a third of our lives sleeping. But how much do we really know about sleep? Five sleep myths checked.
Sleep is one of the most basic human needs and plays a crucial role in our health and well-being. There are numerous myths surrounding sleep at night: Do men really sleep better than women? Can you wake up sleepwalkers? And do we swallow eight spiders in our sleep every year? Five sleep myths checked.
Older people need less sleep
Incorrect. According to the German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine (DGSM), this widespread view is not true. It’s just that older people are often better able to compensate for the consequences thanks to their freer daily routine. However, for many older people, illnesses, lack of exercise, psychological problems or certain medications can cause them to sleep less. According to the DGMS, older people who do not complain of sleep problems and who are well over 70 sleep on average between six and eight hours per night.
You shouldn’t wake up sleepwalkers
True. People usually sleepwalk with their eyes open and a blank stare. During this state, sleepwalkers are sometimes able to talk and sometimes even respond to questions, although often aggressively. Under no circumstances should you wake up sleepwalking people: those affected can become very frightened, panic, defend themselves and injure themselves or others. A better solution: Talk calmly to the sleepwalker and gently guide him back to bed.
You can catch up on sleep
Nope. Some experts are of the opinion that you can definitely catch up on sleep, but not by sleeping in on the weekend and rather sooner rather than later. A study has found that it takes four days of good sleep to recover from just one hour of sleep loss. In any case, it is advisable not to accumulate too much sleep deficit, as at some point the missed hours can no longer be made up – this can sometimes have fatal health consequences.
Men sleep better than women
True. According to studies, women actually need a little more sleep than men. But they are significantly more likely to suffer from sleep disorders or sleep problems. The reasons for this can be hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menstruation, but also social factors.
We swallow eight spiders in our sleep every year
Incorrect. This myth has persisted for years. It is based on a social experiment: In 1993, a columnist wanted to test how easily false facts spread on the Internet – it seems to have worked! Although some species of spiders can live in our houses, they build webs and wait for their prey in them. Open mouths are not attractive to the animals.