Do You Have to Sleep Eight Hours?

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Not getting enough sleep is associated with serious health problems like high blood pressure, cartio vascular disease, dibetes and depression. But doctor carney says the aggressive messaging about getting eight hours or its certain doom is not exactly true and can be really counter productive. If you fall asleep involuntarily during the day, then you probably need more sleep. We have to sleep to live, but we don't want to live to sleep.

We all know a good night’s sleep is essential, but for many people, sleeping well (or falling asleep at all) can be difficult and even stressful– and there’s no shortage of tales about what prevents people from catching their ZZZs. In this episode, Dr. Jen digs into ``how to sleep'' culture– from blue light blockers to sleep hygiene enthusiasts, to the 8 hours a night rule to… witches?! Don’t sleep on this episode–because it might just have you skipping the melatonin supplements and rethinking sleep rituals –before jumping into bed for a well-deserved snooze. This is an episode of Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. To hear more episodes on the lies we're told (and sold) about our personal health, follow Body Stuff wherever you're listening to this.