Insomnia: Get The Facts Before Bedtime
Is the conventional wisdom about sleeplessness fact or fiction?
1. You can make up for lost sleep on the weekends.
fiction! Sleeping in on the weekend means you’ll most likely go to bed later, too. This upsets your circadian rhythm and makes it harder to get a restful, refreshing night’s sleep.1
2. Insomnia will go away by itself.
fiction! Chronic insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep and staying asleep for more than three weeks, doesn’t cure itself.
3. Insomnia is a rare condition.
fiction! Unfortunately, this is far from true. 74% of American adults have trouble sleeping a few nights a week or more.3 Since 1978, millions of problem sleepers have turned to Unisom.
4. Women suffer from insomnia more than men.
fact! With their hormones, professional lives, and responsibilities at home, women are more likely to have a harder time falling and staying asleep than men.4
5. Older people need less sleep.
fiction! Older people tend to sleep less because of underlying medical conditions. But whatever your age, a good night’s sleep is a must for everyone.5
6. Snoring is one of the main causes of sleepless nights.
fact! Whether you’re a loud snoozer, or just sleep next to one, snoring is the primary cause of sleep disruption. In fact, snoring keeps approximately 90 million adults6 from getting a good night’s sleep.
References:
1 http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/7-myths-about-sleep?page=2
2 http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/sleep-aids-and-insomnia
3 http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/let-sleep-work-you
4 http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/women-and-sleep
5 http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/do-seniors-need-less-sleep
6 http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/25-random-facts-about-sleep/page/0%2C1/
