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Scientists have already proven that sleep affects absolutely all areas of our life. And it seems that everyone knows how important a solid, regular and quality night's rest is. However, there are still so many myths around sleep that it is difficult to stop believing them.
1. Everyone needs 8 hours of sleep
This is a standard recommendation, but it does not take into account the characteristics of a specific person. The need for sleep is individual and largely determined by genetics. Sleep is regulated by two systems. One of them is circadian (a 24-hour biological rhythm caused by the change of day and night). But for some, these hours work differently. The second system is the homeostatic need for sleep, which increases when a person is awake for a long time. And if you need less or more than 8 hours of sleep, following the general recommendation is inconvenient.
2. You can get by with six hours
Even more dangerous is the myth that a person can be satisfied with a small amount of sleep. People who sleep little make up only 5% of the entire population. The problem is that many exaggerate their capabilities and believe that lack of sleep does not affect productivity.
3. With age, people sleep less
In fact, it is not. The need for sleep is established in adolescence and then almost does not change. Sleep disorders such as insomnia or apnea (breathing delays) may appear. In addition, many people need rest in the middle of the day as they age, because the influence of circadian rhythms weakens.
