Sleep Myths You Can Ignore
These sleep experts lift the covers on our commonly held beliefs.
By Corrie Pikul
"Dozing off to the TV is the worst thing you can do."
Several sleep experts admitted to us that they regularly watch TV in bed—even though they warn patients never to do this. They, like lots of people, have fallen into the habit of letting background noise lull them to sleep. However, their televisions don't stay on throughout the night, because the light from the screen stealthily interferes with the brain's production of melatonin and disrupts deep sleep, says Sam J. Sugar, MD, director of sleep services at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Doral, Florida. Sugar recommends either turning off the monitor display or, better, putting the television on a timer that will power down the entire system after 30 minutes—by which time you will likely have drifted off (hopefully not in a propped-up position with your face turned to the screen).
Published 11/14/2013
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.