25 Biggest Body Myths And Why You Need To Stop Believing Them (2 of 5)

You can cover up for the missed sleep during the weekends

Contrary to what most people believe, you cannot just sleep extra on the weekends and fill that deficit of hours of sleep you missed during the weekdays. Medical experts term the lack of sleep during the week as ‘sleep debt’. Research shows that after every night where we sleep less, our body’s metabolic system makes a chance that slowly starts to link it with health conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, etc. Further, the lack of sleep builds up ‘waste’ in the brain that is linked to mental health issues such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Experts advise that if you do end up not getting enough sleep for a night, it is important to cover up for it within the next 24 hours if you don’t want it to affect your health.

Snoring is harmless

Speaking of sleep, snoring is another major issue that is often misunderstood. Most people assume that snoring is harmless and cannot affect their health. However, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The National Sleep Foundation states that snoring could be a warning sign of a serious underlying health condition like sleep apnea, which is a condition where breathing is irregular during sleep. Or, sleeping could also be because of cardiovascular diseases. Virend Somers, Cardiologist and MD in Rochester points out that over one out of 10 middle-aged women have sleep apnea while every one out of four men has it. So, if you are someone who snores, make sure you visit your health provider to rule out any serious health conditions.

Medication will make your health issues heal completely

We all have to take medications to treat the health issues we are having, but it is very crucial to remember that the medications are just meant to fight the symptoms, not the underlying issues. Just because you cannot notice the symptoms anymore, it doesn’t mean the problem is resolved. Tsao-Lin Moy, a Chinese medicine expert from New York points out that most people believe that by taking prescribed medicines, they will get rid of the underlying health problem and there is nothing more to do. This is harmful and should be avoided.

Having alcohol before going to bed ensures a good sleep

A lot of people around the world think that having a drink before going to bed is somehow miraculously ensuring a good night’s sleep. While alcohol may make you fall asleep quicker, that effect doesn’t really last that long. Jessia Vensel-Rundo, a neurologist and sleep expert from Cleveland, Ohio notes that while alcohol helps you fall asleep quickly, the issue begins when the alcohol starts to metabolize in the second half of your sleep and creates fragmented sleep. It causes a lot more disruption in sleep, which is not good for your health. It also relaxes the muscles, which ends up making the airways close a lot easier, making you predisposed to issues like sleep apnea.

ADHD medications are completely safe

Millions of people around the world have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a lot of them are prescribed medications to help them deal with the symptoms.

However, what most people don’t realize is, these medications aren’t always helpful.

Capanna-Hodge points out that a lot of people who take prescription medicines for ADHD end up having adverse side effects – something that isn’t really talked about that much. So, if you are on ADHD medications, make sure you keep a tab on things. Things like irritation, psychosis, cardiac difficulties, anger, and personality changes are some of the common side effects one should look out for.