Not Getting Enough Sleep: Part 4

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Some of the information we live by concerning sleep might not be that accurate.

We often hear people talk about someone keeping them up with their snoring, but is something as common as snoring that bad of a thing?

Some local experts help shed light on some of the sleep myths out there, focusing on a seven key points.

Myth number 1: Snoring is normal, we all do it.

"No, snoring is not normal," said Dr. Satya Caparala of the Battle Creek Health System Sleep Center. [It is from] "your windpipe getting narrow and you blow into it, it makes noise." That minimizes the amount of air and oxygen getting to the bloodstream. Over time it can cause numerous health problems.

Myth number 2: Teenagers who fall asleep in class are lazy and have bad habits.

"I can't dispute that," said Dr. Caparala. "But there are other causes." It could also be one of several disorders. Kids struggling to stay awake in class or seeing their grades drop could be deprived of needed sleep.

Myth number 3: The older we get, the less sleep we need.

"Not true," said Dr. Caparala. "The sleep requirements don't change, but the types of sleep older people get changes."

A lot of people have to have things on in the room to sleep and may think it won't hurt them to sleep with the TV or radio on.

Myth number 4: Background sounds are good for sleeping.

"Even when you're asleep your brain is still registering what's going on around you, so if the TV's blasting on and off or there's a lot of bang, your brains gonna pick that up and cause some sleep disruption," said Dr. Caparala.

Myth number 5: Sleeping with a fan is bad for you

Then the experts at Battle Creek Health System Sleep Center must think sleeping with a fan is bad for us too. "Actually we have fans in all the patient's rooms," said Richard Craig of the Battle Creek Health System Sleep Center. "Absolutely, having a fan on in the room is very helpful. It doesn't hurt at all."

Myth number 6: Using medication to get a good night sleep could hurt us.

"Generally prescription drugs are safer than over the counter sleep medicines," said Dr. Caparala. "Over the counter sleep meds are mostly anti-hystemines and as we age, they have a lot more complications on the brain. I think they're bad medicines."

Myth number 7: Depression, hypertension and stress have nothing to do with sleep.

"That is a myth. Probably the biggest myth of all the things you said," said Caparala.

Not getting enough or the right sleep for a long period of time can be very detrimental to your health, so if you can't sleep, or have any of the warning signs we've reference this week, talk to your doctor. There are treatments available and near you.