Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [sleep]

Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than being in hibernation or a coma.

125 questions
16
votes
1 answer

Does sleeping on your left side improve digestion?

Does sleeping on the left side improve digestion? This article claims that it does, is there any truth to it? http://www.healthylifetricks.com/this-is-why-you-should-be-sleeping-on-your-left-side/ Sleeping on the right side is likely to worsen…
Jan Vladimir Mostert
  • 2,087
  • 4
  • 20
  • 29
16
votes
0 answers

Should you regularly replace your pillow?

According to an article in the Guardian: Out of 2,200 men and women, only 18% knew they should replace their pillows every two years. The average person uses the same pillow for three years and two months. [...] Many – though not all – sleep…
Christian
  • 33,271
  • 15
  • 112
  • 266
16
votes
1 answer

Are we supposed to keep a 24 hour rest/wake cycle?

I find it nearly impossible to keep a 24 hour day cycle and the developed world have been structured into the 8 hour work day where you have: Eight hours labour, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest. Are there strong physical and…
Kit Sunde
  • 18,636
  • 12
  • 93
  • 127
15
votes
1 answer

Can you snore and dream at the same time?

According to numerous sources on the internet, you cannot snore and dream at the same time. Source 1 If you are snoring, then you cannot be dreaming. This fact is repeated all over the Internet, but I’m a bit suspicious whether it’s really true as…
LanceLafontaine
  • 1,012
  • 9
  • 23
15
votes
1 answer

Has lucid dreaming been scientifically observed?

I found this anecdote in Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard Feynman. In the passage below, Feynman describes his attempts to analyze his dreams I also noticed that as you go to sleep the ideas continue, but they become less and less…
Green Noob
  • 2,489
  • 1
  • 21
  • 29
15
votes
2 answers

Is eating and then going to sleep bad for health?

It is common to hear elderly in Portugal saying that dining and then going to sleep has a bad impact on one's health (apparently it is not only in Portugal). From a National Institute of Health ncbi.nlm.nih.gov article we see that some foods may…
Gonçalo Peres
  • 367
  • 1
  • 2
  • 10
15
votes
1 answer

Does white noise improve sleep quality?

I've heard it claimed that white noise improves sleep quality, and anecdotally I've found it to sometimes be true. There are many white noise devices targeted at improving sleep, but research on the topic is scant. Does anyone know of thorough…
Bruce Alderson
  • 253
  • 1
  • 7
15
votes
1 answer

Does drinking warm milk help people fall asleep and if so what is it about it that does?

I always thought drinking warm milk before going to bed helps one fall asleep. According to Dr.Oz's friend, it does Dr. Oz talked with a sleep expert who said warm milk will help you fall asleep at night. The milk helps you fall asleep because…
Celeritas
  • 2,564
  • 2
  • 18
  • 28
14
votes
1 answer

Is it possible to drive while sleepwalking?

I recently watched a movie called In My Sleep where the character allegedly is able to drive and even have sex while he is "sleepwalking." Marcus struggles with parasomnia, a sleepwalking disorder that causes him to do things in his sleep that he…
animuson
  • 243
  • 1
  • 13
14
votes
2 answers

Does putting a bar of soap under your mattress prevent leg cramps?

I've heard this claim several times from family members, and I was highly skeptical. Supposedly the mere presence of a bar of soap underneath the mattress can ward off leg cramps during the night. The brand of soap does not appear to matter. I…
Beofett
  • 9,363
  • 4
  • 57
  • 84
14
votes
3 answers

Is charging your phone overnight dangerous?

There are a number of news stories like this (in Russian) of an iPhone 5 burning up and causing a fire while charging overnight, seriously damaging the owner. There's another story going around of a girl dying because she was listening to her…
Peter Olson
  • 3,603
  • 2
  • 22
  • 23
14
votes
3 answers

Do "blue light therapy" systems help with sleeping disorders?

I've seen blue light therapy systems which just look like a bunch of LED blue lights being sold online and in stores. They claim to help with sleeping disorders and jet lag. How are they supposed to work and are they effective?
dting
  • 395
  • 2
  • 8
13
votes
1 answer

Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker?

Source It seems to be a common belief that you should never wake up a sleepwalker From Wikipedia - Sleepwalking: There are conflicting viewpoints on whether it is harmful to wake a sleepwalker. Some experts say that sleepwalkers should be…
Oliver_C
  • 47,851
  • 18
  • 213
  • 208
13
votes
0 answers

Does drinking water right after waking up reduce sleepiness?

Related but with no answers (at the time of this posting). Several websites and "health tips" blogs recommend doing this after waking up to reduce sleepiness after waking up. (references, google search). Is there any proof it works?
Mindwin Remember Monica
  • 3,289
  • 4
  • 16
  • 32
13
votes
1 answer

Does sleeping an average of 11 hours or more raise one's risk of brain-related disorders?

I am familiar with the effects of sleep deprivation and some of the harmful effects of oversleeping. However, I have also heard more than once that sleeping more than 10 hours on average, even for a non-sedentary person, can lower overall brain…
EuropaDust
  • 831
  • 1
  • 7
  • 9
1 2 3
…
8 9