NHLBI IN THE PRESS

Common Sleep Myths Debunked

True or false: People can get by on five or fewer hours of sleep. While many may think this is true, researchers recently debunked this and other claims.

With a team of sleep experts, researchers reviewed over 8,000 websites and ranked the top 20 assumptions based on whether each could be dispelled as a myth or supported by existing scientific evidence. Not only did they find misconceptions that lead to poor habits, they determined how harmful each assumption was to public health.

The study, partly funded by NHLBI, appeared in the journal Sleep Health.

Media Coverage

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NYU Langone Health
  • Press Release: Common Sleep Myths Compromise Good Sleep & Health
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    ABC News
  • Debunking sleep myths that may be compromising your health
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    Popular Science
  • Think you can survive on five hours' sleep? Keep dreaming.
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    BBC
  • Sleep myths 'damaging your health'
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    CBS News
  • 7 common sleep myths that could be affecting your health
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    CNN
  • Wake up, people: You're fooling yourself about sleep, study says