Let’s celebrate sleep

Let’s celebrate sleep

Discover surprising facts about sleep, some lesser-known sleep disorders, a guide to sleep routines and hygiene, as well as a variety of content that can help you sleep better.

Screening for sleep disorders

5 surprising facts about sleep

Myths and origins

The custom of counting sheep to go to sleep is believed to originate in medieval times.

The custom of counting sheep to go to sleep is believed to originate in medieval times.
Facts about sleep

5% of the population need only four to six hours of sleep to be fully functional.

5% of the population need only four to six hours of sleep to be fully functional.
History

Monophasic sleep, with a single continuous cycle, has only existed for 150 years.

Monophasic sleep, with a single continuous cycle, has only existed for 150 years.
Sleep disorders

At around age 50, insomnia is one of the main reasons why people seek help for sleep disorders.

At around age 50, insomnia is one of the main reasons why people seek help for sleep disorders.
Impact of sleep

Sleep plays a role in weight management.

Sleep plays a role in weight management.
Do you have trouble sleeping well?
Sleep routines

Sleep routines

Our guide on sleep hygiene is aimed at making people aware of lifestyle habits related to their diet, their activities and certain environmental factors that could affect the quality of their sleep.

Download the guide

Lesser-known sleep disorders

Insomnia

Bruxism

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

Idiopathic hypersomnia

Hormonal changes and sleep

Major disruptions

  • Hormonal changes that take place during adolescence lead to a delay in the biological clock. As a result, teenagers tend to stay up late and get up late.
    • There appears to be a clear link between success at school and the time when classes begin. The earlier classes begin, the higher the rate of students who drop out.
    • Some teenagers will remain night owls for their entire lives.
  • Among other things, the production of estrogen and progesterone helps maintain muscle tone in the airways. At menopause, with the decline of these hormones, this protection decreases, resulting in the prevalence of sleep apnea doubling for this age group. Another contributing factor is that women tend to gain weight after menopause, building up more fatty tissue in the neck, which can lead to obstruction of the airways.
  • Menopause also causes a major increase in sympathetic activity. This activation is accompanied by the release of cortisol (the stress hormone) which creates a state of hypervigilance, therefore interfering with sleep.
  • As we get older, the signals that our biological clock sends to the brain to wake up or fall asleep diminish over time. Part of the problem is a drop in body temperature that happens earlier in the evening for elderly people. A lower body temperature is related to sleepiness. As a result, older people often go to bed very early and get up very early as well.
    • Sleeping continuously is no longer as easy, and afternoon naps are common among older adults.
  • Although we might think older people sleep less, they actually need the same number of hours of sleep per day, on average, as people in the prime of their lives.

Discover our advice for a complete sleep care program.

Women and sleep: Changes throughout life

woman-asleep-on-couch
Neat Little Guide

How many hours does a child have to sleep?

How many hours does a child have to sleep?
Specialist Advice

How does smartphone use affect my sleep?

How does smartphone use affect my sleep?
Dr Pierre Mayer
How does smartphone use affect my sleep?
Your Questions

What to eat in the evening to sleep well

Personne qui mange en regardant sa montre
Specialist Advice

Is catching up the solution to your sleep debt?

Sleeping couple
Sleep care team
Sleeping couple
Neat Little Guide

The art and benefits of napping

The art and benefits of napping