Did you know that up to 70 million Americans are struggling with a sleep disorder? Or that 40 percent of adults aged 40 to 59 years don’t get enough sleep?
From what you eat and drink to your stress levels, dozens of factors can affect sleep quality and duration.
Adequate rest is essential to overall health and well-being. Insomnia can put you at risk for cardiac events, musculoskeletal conditions, and other chronic ailments.
But why is it so important to get enough sleep at night? Can’t you take a nap instead? Here are five interesting facts about sleep that might surprise you!
- Some People Dream Entirely in Black and White
Are your dreams colorful and lively or black and white?
As it turns out, grayscale dreams are common in adults who had access to black and white television and other media. In fact, a staggering 12 percent of people never see any color in their dreams.
- It’s Possible to Sleep with Your Eyes Open
This may come up as a surprise, but you can sleep without closing your eyes. About 10 percent of people have this ability.
The downside is that you make up with dry eyes, ulcers, or scarring on the cornea. Eye irritation, redness, and inflammation are common side effects.
Researchers believe that nocturnal lagophthalmos, a rare sleep disorder, is what causes this issue.
- Sleep Deprivation May Shorten Your Life
Looking for other fun facts about sleep? Here’s one that might shock you.
Sleep deprivation can take years off your life and put you at risk for chronic disorders.
The number of immune cells in the body drops by 70 percent after just one night of four or five hours’ sleep. That’s why sleep deprivation is strongly connected to cancer and immune disorders.
Clinical evidence shows a strong association between longevity, sleep quality, and regular sleep patterns.
But what if you have a sleep disorder? It’s not like you can program yourself to get more shuteye.
Depending on your condition, you may benefit from using natural sleep aids, prescription pills, or special devices like a night guard. Melatonin supplements, valerian tea, and lavender essential oil may help too.
- Snoring Affects Your Ability to Dream
Here’s another crazy fact: snoring may keep you from dreaming.
While occasional snoring doesn’t seem to affect the deep sleep stages, chronic snoring may interfere with your ability to dream.
- Napping Cannot Replace a Good Night’s Sleep
If you don’t get enough shuteye at night, it’s tempting to nap throughout the day. Unfortunately, this habit won’t help you pay off your sleep debt.
Napping has its perks, though. A 20- to 30-minute nap may increase your energy and alertness, boost mental performance, and relax your body.
Discover Other Cool Facts about Sleep
We hope these facts about sleep will motivate you to get more shuteye. Inadequate rest can affect mental health, work performance, reaction time, and immune function.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take the steps needed to enjoy a better night’s sleep. Simple things, such as creating a bedtime schedule and avoiding the use of electronic devices at night, can make all the difference.
Want more tips to look and feel your best? Browse our Health & Fitness section! We’ll show you how to restore your energy, what to eat for better health, and much more.
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