Myth # 11: Sleep deprivation is life-threatening.
Dr. med. h.c. Guenther W. Amann-Jennson: True. Out of ethical reasons this is scientifically not testable. But a lot of facts suggest it. Dr. Allen Rechtschaffen, sleep scientist at the University of Chicago, conducted tests with rats and exposed them to sleep deprivation. After 10 days, the animals did not eat any more, more and more lost weight and their body temperature got out of control. Due to the sleep deprivation, the immune system got so weakened that tumors and infections arose. After 21 days, the animals died. Immune system and metabolism completely failed. After 24 hours of sleep deprivation, a human being behaves like a drunken person with an alcohol level of about 100 milliliters. Human beings reacted irritated and aggressive to sleep deprivation, experiments had to stopped after 60 hours. People concerned with the rare hereditary disease Fatal Familial Insomnia are not able to properly sleep. This disease normally ends fatal after 18 months latest.
Myth # 12: It is possible to pre-sleep.
Dr. med. h.c. Guenther W. Amann-Jennson: Myth. Although a lot of people who have to work in shifts or are on-call duty try to keep their lack of sleep low with sleeping in advance, this is a myth. The sleep structure of the human being gets changed, since most of the time people try to pre-sleep during the day or in the early evening. Due to the interruptions the important deep sleep is missing most of the time and this considerably diminishes the physical recreation, in particular. “Sleep ahead” is precious little good, as well. You are mistaken, when you sleep more the night before a wild party to be fit at the party. The body is not able to save recreation and will be just as tired as without extra-sleep.
Myth # 13: Late risers are lazier than early risers.
Dr. med. h.c. Guenther W. Amann-Jennson: Myth. It is a known fact that there are owls, night lovers who go to bed late (between 12.00 p.m. and 01.00 a.m.) and sleep in, if possible or larks who go to bed early (between 09.00 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.) and get up early as well. It is a myth, that night owls are lazier and in general less efficient than larks. The difference is in the performance curve: owls reach their full potential at the end of the day. Larks have their high from the morning until lunch-time. But, in our performance-oriented society, owls are disadvantaged. Most of the time they are living against their inner clock and accumulate a sleeping debt with every single working day. That’s the so-called “social jet-lag”. Owls have to balance this lack of sleep on the weekend, otherwise this might even lead to diseases.
Myth # 14: When you are taking a power nap you sleep shorter the following night.
Dr. med. h.c. Guenther W. Amann-Jennson: Myth. Here, it is important to make a difference between an after-lunch sleep and a power nap. A power nap is a short, focused, to 20 minutes limited sleeping. Power napping can’t be seen as a substitute for sleep and deep sleep is avoided. Just during deep sleep the complete recreation, especially the physical one, is happening in the night. Regular power napping is a very good stress killer and one of the best preventions for the cardiovascular system, exhaustion and burnout. You don’t sleep shorter in the night but most of the times calmer and deeper.
Myth # 15: A good sleep needs snoring.
Dr. med. h.c. Guenther W. Amann-Jennson: Myth. On the contrary: on the one hand, snoring harms the health of the concerned person and on the other hand it is threatening the relationship. About 20 % of all adults snore, whereas men snore more often than women. During sleep, the muscles in our body relax and this often leads to a lowering of the lower jaw. Now, when the soft palate is vibrating during breathing disturbing snore-noises arise. It is also possible, that the rear part of the tongue is falling back into the throat. Mostly people snore, when they are lying on their back. The combination of snoring and breathing interruptions –- the so-called sleep apnoe — is dangerous. If you think you might suffer under sleep apnoe you should see a doctor or sleep medic in any case.
Leave a Reply