10 of the Biggest Myths About Sleep

1. The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.


2. During sleep, your brain rests.




4. Daytime sleepiness always means a person isn’t getting enough sleep.


5. Sleep apnea is just snoring.

All too often, snoring and sleep apnea are confused or thought of as interchangeable. In truth, while all untreated OSA sufferers snore, only some people who snore have sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, 45 percent of the population snores occasionally and one in four adults snore chronically. At the same time, an estimated 18 million people across the country suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which has been linked to a bevy of health issues including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Learn more from our guest post by Clark O. Taylor, M.D., D.D.S.

6. Only older people get sleep apnea.

Doctors estimate that more than 18 million Americans have the condition. It’s more common after age 40, but it can affect people of all ages. You’re more likely to have sleep apnea if you are overweight, male, and have a thick neck circumference. The disorder also tends to run in families. Learn more about risk factors for sleep apnea here.

7. Women don’t get sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is less prevalent in women than men, but still, women are seriously underdiagnosed. One study estimates that women make up 1/3 of people with sleep apnea, but only 1/9 of tested patients. Shockingly, over 90% of women with sleep apnea are undiagnosed. 

8. Sleep apnea is rare in children.

2-3% of children have sleep apnea.


There are several behavioral clues that could also indicate that your child’s sleep is not as sound as it could be. A child might seem excessively sleepy during the day. Other possible side effects could include behavioral problems like hyperactivity or learning difficulties. Thus, children who unknowingly suffer from sleep apnea are often misdiagnosed with ADHD. Learn more about testing and treating sleep apnea in children here.

9. Alcohol will help you sleep.

Alcohol not only relaxes you after a long week at the office, but it also relaxes the muscles in your throat making it more likely for the upper airway to collapse, causing snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (here’s another blog post about the difference between snoring and sleep apnea: Snoring vs. Sleep Apnea: Which is it?). 

Most doctors will agree that one to two drinks will only cause a minimal effect (depending on other health factors, including your BMI), but any more than that can adversely affect your much-needed rest. If you have been relying on alcohol to try to sleep better, there could be an underlying condition that you may not even be aware of that is preventing you from a restful sleep. If you have a hard time falling or staying asleep or wake up in the morning after a long period of sleep and still feel tired, you may have a sleep disorder. Take the sleepiness quiz to assess your level of sleepiness and talk to your doctor about your symptoms. 

If you have untreated sleep apnea, alcohol will make it worse and can even affect the results of a sleep study

10. Adults who have had a tonsillectomy during childhood do not develop obstructive sleep apnea.

Even if you have had a tonsillectomy, you can still develop obstructive sleep apnea as an adult. 

The most common cause of childhood OSA is having overly large tonsils and adenoids (a soft mass of tissue located just behind the uvula) that block off the airway during sleep. Tonsillectomy cures sleep apnea in 80-90% of children.  Thirty years ago, about 90% of tonsillectomies in children were done for recurrent throat infection; now it is about 20% for infection and 80% for obstructive sleep apnea.

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have a sleep disorder, check out our educational resources and talk to your doctor today!

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  1. Judson Reply

    Is it possible as an adult to get your tonsels removed or do you need proof that you have infections. I just wanted to see if it helped with my sleep apnea. I was diagnose two weeks ago and I’m having trouble still adapting to the air machine.

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