{"id":608,"date":"2014-09-15T08:56:23","date_gmt":"2014-09-15T08:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amerisleep.com\/blog\/?p=608"},"modified":"2023-08-24T15:33:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T22:33:43","slug":"weird-facts-before-you-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amerisleep.com\/blog\/weird-facts-before-you-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting Sheep? Here\u2019s 6 Weird Snooze-Related Facts to Read Before You Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a hard time dozing off? Sometimes, a little light reading can be just the thing.<\/p>\n

Before you sleep, peruse this fascinating slumber-related food for thought. We guarantee<\/em> you\u2019ll learn something new.<\/p>\n

(And, yes, we\u2019re aware that using your tablet or smartphone right before bed isn\u2019t really recommended. But every rule is meant to be broken once in a while, right?)<\/p>\n

Insomnia Can Run in Families<\/h2>\n

Can\u2019t catch a wink? Well, at least you\u2019re not alone. In one small study, French researchers found that\u00a0your risk for insomnia jumps by 67%<\/a>\u00a0if the affliction also plagues one of your family members. Your odds continue to skyrocket from there with each additional sleep-deprived kin.<\/p>\n

The connection is likely at least partly genetic, but there may also be\u00a0mental factors<\/a>\u00a0at play: According to the study\u2019s researchers, you and your clan could be predisposed to anxiety.<\/p>\n

Seeing a parent cope with insomnia<\/a> during childhood can cause you to have the same reaction to trouble sleeping as an adult, too. In which case, a\u00a0placebo sleep brain hack<\/a>\u00a0might be all you need to get to dreamland faster.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Flickr user ttoes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sleeping Worse When the Moon Is Full<\/h2>\n

Maybe you\u2019re having trouble dozing off tonight because there\u2019s a big, bright orb hanging outside your window. On nights with a full moon, people average 20 minutes less sleep and take five minutes longer to fall asleep, found a recent Swiss study<\/a>. (They also experience 30 minutes more<\/em> REM sleep, which might account for those crazy dreams<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

True, keeping light from creeping into your bedroom<\/a> can make it easier to crash, but in this <\/em>study, participants slept in windowless rooms where bright moonlight wasn\u2019t an issue. \u201cThere may be a built-in biological clock that is affected by the moon, similar to the one that regulates the circadian rhythm,\u201d says study author Michael Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You Might Make Less Melatonin if You\u2019ve Had a Concussion<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that a bad blow to the head can come with serious side effects, like memory problems. But it could also mess with your brain\u2019s ability to produce the sleep hormone melatonin, according to\n