Five sleep myths

You sleep less as you get older

Recent US research shows we don't sleep less, but we do sleep differently - dropping off earlier in the evening and waking earlier the next day. We also get less deep sleep, so feel less refreshed. ‘Sleep patterns change for men in their 30s and for women in their 50s, with a progressive loss of deep sleep,' says Dr Neil Stanley.

Everyone needs eight hours

‘Individuals need widely varying amounts of sleep - from three to four hours to 11 at the extremes - although for most, six to eight is the norm,' says Dr Stanley. ‘The key is whether you feel alert and energised the next day. If you don't and feel sleepy, then you probably need more.'

Siestas perk you up

Napping has been shown to have all sorts of benefits - recent research at the University of California found that a short nap increases your brain's ability to learn new facts in the following hours. But keep it short - 20 minutes is ideal - longer than 30 and you're likely to fall into a deep sleep that will leave you tired and groggy.

Lie-ins are good

A short lie-in can help you catch up on lost sleep, but what your body really craves is regularity. An extra few hours at the weekend can leave you feeling surprisingly unrefreshed and make it harder to get up on a Monday morning.

Men need more sleep

Not only do women suffer more from insomnia and other sleep problems, but they also need more - around 20 minutes a night, according to Professor Jim Horne of the Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre. The reason? As we all suspected, women's brains work harder than men's. ‘Men tend to be straightforward, while women are multi-taskers. Their role is a more complex one, so their brains need more rest at the end of the day,' he says.

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