Tips for sleeping on TikTok: facts or fads? The expert steps in – NewsRaiser

TikTok users have been overcoming hurdles in order to get a good night’s sleep, with sleep hacks taking over the social media app.

Some users encouraged unconventional hacks such as drinking lettuce water and using duct tape to cover their mouths while sleeping.

Sleep expert Amanada Jewson breaks down which of these hacks are worth trying and which are not worth losing sleep over.

FAD: TAPE ON THE MOUTH

Covering the mouth with medical tape while sleeping would encourage breathing through the nose and filter out harmful allergens while sleeping, some TikTok users have said.

However, Jewson told CTV’s Your Morning that it could actually interfere with sleep for people who already have difficulty breathing due to health conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea.

“Obstructive sleep apnea means your airway is blocked somewhere, and most people can’t quite breathe through their nose, so they’re already getting a reduced amount of oxygen and if you close your mouth with tape, this can be a very serious result. “Jewson said in an interview on Tuesday.

One of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is loud snoring, Jewson said, which is why many people implement this hack to avoid disturbing those sleeping around them at night.

However, Jewson recommends that people who have trouble breathing through their nose while sleeping consult their family doctor instead of using duct tape to avoid further sleep issues.

FACT: MILITARY METHOD

The military method is intended to help a person fall asleep within two minutes through in-bed relaxation, according to the latest TikTok trend. Jewishon said that while there isn’t much evidence for this method, mindful meditation can help you get a good night’s sleep.

“We know that when we practice mindful meditation [and] relaxation, like a two-minute military method, we reduce cortisol levels [and] adrenaline, and we know that when we have lower stress levels, we fall asleep easier and stay asleep,” Jewson said.

This particular method is believed to have been introduced to the US military during World War II, Jewson said, and is best known for being referenced in the 1981 book on sports performance, “Relax and Win: Championship Performance ”.

“You’re going to visualize a part of your body – so it could be your legs – you’re going to hold it for 30 seconds and release it. You’re going to pull your body up and release every part of your body and when you get to the end you’re going to think of something like a lake or a beach or some relaxing place that you want to be and military way you’re out in two minutes,” Jewson said.

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FAD: BOILING LETTUCE

Boiling lettuce and drinking its water before bed is another of TikTok’s sleep hacks that have convinced many users that it has helped them sleep better. However, Jewson said this hack is only scientifically proven on mice, not humans.

“We have a mouse study that shows that when we give mice an extract of lettuce, sleep duration increases,” Jewson said. “However, the amount of lettuce you would have [need] at home in order to obtain a similar extract for a human; your whole life would be boiling lettuce.

Many TikTok users said this hack worked for them, however, Jewson said it was because most people started using this trend to create a sleep routine, which helps the body to prepare for rest, not lettuce water.

“We know that bedtime routines work, so whether it’s a shower, herbal tea, boiled lettuce; if you want to do this every night, your body learns that sleep comes next, so I guess that’s why it’s helpful,” she told me.

@callmebelly I usually go to bed at 3-4am, that’s crazy 🤯 #restaurantreview #lettucewater #lettuce #sleepy ♬ Bomb Intro / Pass That Dutch – Missy Elliott