The Truth Behind Sleep Myths
Have you ever been told the sleep myth that you may swallow a spider while you sleep? Or that you should never wake a sleepwalker? There are a number of urban legends and myths when it comes to sleeping and sleepers. Keep reading to see which ones are true and which ones are just legends.
Sleep Myth #1: You Swallow Spiders While You Sleep
Don’t sleep with your mouth open because if you do, according to this widespread myth, you’re going to swallow a spider. Nobody knows just how many spiders you’re going to swallow. Some myths say you’ll consume four spiders in your sleep every year, some say it’s eight a year and others say you may swallow 20 in a lifetime. There’s no surefire number, just like there’s no surefire truth to this urban legend. Spiders that live inside homes tend to stay away from human-infested areas and the sleeping human may even be terrifying for spiders. One of the spider’s sensory abilities comes from vibrations. As you sleep, your breathing (or snoring) and your heartbeat create vibrations that warn spiders of danger. Good luck finding a spider that would willingly approach a sleeping human.
Sleep Myth #2: Never Wake a Sleepwalker
The story goes that if a person is sleepwalking, you must steer them back to their room and back into bed. Under no circumstances should you actually wake them. Waking a sleepwalker will shock them to the point that they may suffer a heart attack, or even die. This myth is partially true – if you wake a sleepwalker, they certainly may be startled, even distressed or frightened. But who wouldn’t feel frightened if they go to sleep in a comfy bed and then wake up standing in the kitchen? Although sleepwalkers, when awoken, may feel distressed, there has been no documented evidence that proves waking a sleepwalker is fatal to the sleepwalker.
Sleep Myth #3: Eating Cheese Will Give You Nightmares
If you’re not in tune with your classic British literature, or your holiday TV movie specials, then this myth might fly over your head. This one may have come from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol when Ebenezer Scrooge blames eating cheese for bringing these ghosts into his nightmares. According to a study done by the British Cheese Board (yes, there is a British Cheese Board), cheese does not cause nightmares. However, the study interestingly found that certain cheeses evoked different types of dreams. Blue cheese caused vivid dreams, cheddar cheese caused dreams about celebrities and a British cheese called Red Leicester caused nostalgic dreams about childhood and families.
Sleep Myth #4: Counting Sheep Will Help You Sleep
There’s no real record for why we count sheep, but many people believe that it has to do with a counting system created by shepherds of ancient Britain. It is generally believed that the monotonous task of counting sheep can help lull you into a peaceful slumber. This sleep myth is false. In fact, scientists at Oxford University found the opposite to be true – counting sheep caused volunteers of their study to take a longer time to sleep than other participants. Counting sheep is too repetitive and too boring to occupy enough “cognitive space” in the brain and could lead other distracting thought patterns to enter your mind. Thus, making it harder for you to relax and fall asleep.
Sleep Myth #5: You Can “Cheat” On the Amount of Sleep You Get
If you think that you can slowly get your body used to sleeping fewer hours a night, think again. No matter how many life hacks you try, most sleep experts will advise that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep. If you’re clocking in less than seven to nine hours, you’ll require additional sleep the next night. There’s no way to get your body used to an amount of sleep less than what it needs.
Which sleep myths kept you up at night? Find comfort with one of our plush Sherpa throw blankets and share your stories with us on our social media channels.
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