Sleeping is one of the things that people would love to do. But apparently, people have to discipline themselves and make sure that they get the adequate sleep recommended for people today. Apparently, there are some beliefs that many would agree to while others would consider as based on beliefs and myths. But myth or not, it remains that we have to manage ourselves well since in the end, lacking sleep will take its toll on us.

Here are some common myths of sleeping and insomnia. We may or may not agree with them but they are apparently related to how we perceive and understand sleep as a whole.

1. Humans Need Eight Hours Sleep a Night: There are many ways of sleeping and few cultures sleep in eight-hour consolidated blocks like we do. In places like Bali and New Guinea, people tend to slip in and out of sleep as they need it, napping more during the day, and getting up more at night.
2. Sleep Isn’t Just a Bodily Function: Sleep is a biological, physiological system, akin to the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and so on.
3. Animals Don’t Have Sleep Problems: Insomnia occurs in animals and insects, too, sort of. Technically, insomnia is defined as a “complaint,” and since animals can’t complain, it’s difficult to measure in them
4. Falling Asleep Is a Gradual Process. Nope. Instead, for most people, it switches on and off like a light switch. But for insomniacs and narcoleptics, the switch doesn’t quite work.
5. Sleeping Less Burns More Calories. In the short term, yes, but sleeping less probably won’t help you lose weight. Lack of sleep suppresses our natural appetite-depressants, while fueling appetite-increasers, often leading to weight gain.

(Source) Newsweek

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We all know that sleeping may become serious but for people in Angola, an ancient sleeping sickness transmitted through insects may be a lot more serious than the usual sleeping disorders we normally hear from people today.

They call it Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness which originates from Africa. It is known to be caused by two parasites:

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

Angola will host from Monday through Saturday the 39th International Scientific Council to investigate and fight trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness.

Experts from 36 countries will try to combat an endemic disease affecting both humans and animals over 6 million square miles of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The infection is acquired through the bite of Tse-Tse fly. Early stages involve headaches, malaise, intermittent fever, enlargement of the lymph nodes and liver.

Read more: Angola Alert over Sleeping Sickness

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