Sleep Disorder Myths

How much do you know about sleep disorders? Review these statements and learn which are true and which are myths.

Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression have no relation to the amount and quality of a person's sleep.

Fiction: More and more scientific studies are showing correlations between poor quality sleep and/or insufficient sleep with a variety of diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. For example, insufficient sleep can impair the body's ability to use insulin, which can lead to the onset of diabetes. In addition, insufficient sleep affects growth hormone secretion that is linked to obesity. As the amount of hormone secretion decreases the chance of weight gain increases.

The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.

Fiction: Sleep experts recommend a total sleep time of seven to nine hours of sleep for the average adult. Sleep patterns change as people age, but the amount of sleep they generally need does not. Older people may wake more frequently through the night and may actually get less nighttime sleep, but their need for sleep is no less than that of younger adults.

Snoring is a common sleep problem and can be harmful.

Fact: Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that is associated with other medical problems such as cardiovascular disease. Sleep apnea is characterized by episodes of reduced or no airflow throughout the night. People with sleep apnea may remember waking up frequently during the night gasping for breath.

You can "cheat" on the amount of sleep you get.

Fiction: Sleep experts say that most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety. Getting fewer hours of sleep will eventually need to be replenished with additional sleep in the next few nights. Our body does not seem to get used to less sleep than it needs.

Teens need more sleep than adults.

Fact: Teens need at least 8.5 - 9.25 hours of sleep each night, compared to an average of seven to nine hours each night for most adults. The internal biological clocks of teenagers can keep them awake later in the evening and can interfere with waking up in the morning.

Insomnia is characterized only by difficulty falling asleep.

Fiction: There are one or more of the following four symptoms usually associated with insomnia:

• Difficulty falling asleep.
• Waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep.
• Frequent awakenings.
• Waking up feeling unrefreshed.

Daytime sleepiness means a person is not getting enough sleep.

Fiction: While excessive daytime sleepiness often occurs if you don't get enough sleep, it can also occur even after a good night's sleep. Such sleepiness can be a sign of an underlying medical condition or sleep disorder such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea.