5 MYTHS ABOUT SLEEP

Don't lie awake thinking about it, but do be smart about sleep. Fact: If you don't snooze, you lose!

- KATE ROCKWOOD

1 MYTH: Some people need only five hours of sleep.

MYTHBUSTER

Roughly 1% of us can function when regularly getting five or six hours, but for everyone else, "seven or eight hours of sleep is recommended for optimal health and functioning," says Michael Scullin, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University. Routinely getting less is linked to higher risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and memory problems. AIso, while some people may think they're doing A-OK on less, they may not realize the cumulative impact lack of sleep is having on their physical and mental health, Scullin adds. When people who are sleeping less than seven to eight hours start getting that recommended amount, "we often see their well-being increase," he says.

2 MYTH : Melatonin is natural, so it's no problem.

MYTHBUSTER