25 sleep facts that may surprise you

Think you know all there is to know about sleep? Well, we’ve rounded up the most curious sleep facts that you may not be aware of.

1. Falling asleep should take around 10-15 minutes. If you fall asleep in less time, you’re probably sleep-deprived
2. Around 12% of people dream in black and white. Interestingly, before the introduction of colour television, only 15% dreamed in colour!
3. Humans are the only mammals that can delay sleep.
4. We spend around a third of our lives asleep. That means if we live to 75, we would have slept for the equivalent of 25 years!
5. Men and women sleep differently as their circadian rhythms are slightly different.
6. That sensation of falling when you go to sleep is called ‘hypnic jerking’ and is often caused by anxiety, stimulants or not having enough wind-down time before bed.
7. Sleepwalking is more common than you think. It’s believed that as many as 15% of people sleepwalk.
8. As many as 20% of Australians are affected by a major sleep disorder.
9. Everyone dreams but not everyone remembers their dreams. Within 5 minutes of waking up, half your dream is forgotten. After 10 minutes, you’ll forget 90% of what you dreamed.
10. Sleep deprivation can cause weight gain. This is because levels of leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone, drop when we don’t get enough sleep. This can cause us to feel hungrier and eat more.
11. Menopause can significantly disrupt a woman’s sleep, but menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can help.
12. REM sleep makes up between 20-25% of total sleep for healthy adults.
13. On average, we spend around 2 hours each night dreaming.
14. Sleep problems are a risk factor for chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.
15. In Australia, half of 16-17 year-olds don’t get enough sleep on school nights.
16. Daylight savings can drastically disrupt your sleep patterns.
17. Our bodies feel the most tired at 2.00am and 2.00pm – which is why we’re often sleepy after lunch!
18. Electronic screens and the blue light they emit can make it difficult to get to sleep.
19. You can’t catch up on sleep – nor can you ‘bank’ it to use later.
20. Parents of newborns lose 6 months of sleep in the first 2 years of their child’s life.
21. Being sleep deprived has similar effects on your brain as being drunk.
22. Our sleep can be affected by what we eat and drink before bed.
23. A new bed can help you get an extra 42 minutes of sleep.
24. You should change your mattress every 6 -8 years.

It’s a known sleep fact that your mattress should be comfortable and supportive. At BedGuard, we have a range of high-quality, Australian-made waterproof mattresses to suit every member of the family. Come in-store or browse online today and take another step towards a good night’s sleep.