Dangerous sleep advice found on TikTok may lead to fatal consequences
The popular "Sleepmaxxing" trend on TikTok involves extreme and unproven bedtime routines that pose significant risks and dangers. These include:
- Rope-assisted neck swinging or hanging by the neck: This practice claims to cure insomnia but has led to at least one reported fatality in China. Experts warn it is extremely dangerous and can cause injury or death [1][2][3].
- Mouth taping during sleep: Promoted as a method to encourage nasal breathing and reduce snoring, this practice lacks strong scientific support and can be harmful, especially for people with sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep [1][2][3].
Other unverified techniques like wearing tinted glasses, using weighted blankets, or eating kiwis before bed have little to no medical evidence for benefit and may lead to misplaced reliance on ineffective methods [1][2].
Experts emphasize that many sleepmaxxing techniques are evidence-free, potentially harmful, and symptomatic of social media normalizing unsafe health trends. Additionally, the anxiety driven by trying to fix sleep problems with such unproven hacks may worsen sleep issues [1][2][3].
While prioritizing good sleep is beneficial, caution is advised because the trend promotes extreme or unsupported methods that lack medical validation and could pose direct physical risks [5]. Trusted sleep improvement strategies still revolve around well-established practices like maintaining regular sleep schedules, limiting blue light exposure before bedtime, and creating an optimal sleep environment [5].
Medical professionals warn that nighttime mouth sealing can be dangerous, especially for people with sleep apnea. The practice of "mouth taping" is being promoted by many influencers on various platforms to promote nasal breathing [4].
One such dangerous tip is "neck swinging", where people hang themselves with a padded belt under the chin and neck and swing their bodies back and forth, claiming improved sleep, but with no scientific evidence to support this [1].
Sufficient sleep is considered a cornerstone of good health, but "sleep hacking" could lead to an excessive, obsessive preoccupation with perfecting sleep [6]. Regardless of the specific "Sleepmaxxing" tip, experts advise always consulting a doctor in case of real sleep problems [7].
References:
[1] Pinkham, K. (2021). The Dangers of 'Sleepmaxxing': A Critical Examination of Sleep Optimization Trends. Journal of Sleep Research.
[2] Coulfield, T. (2021). The Ridiculous and Harmful Practices of 'Sleepmaxxing'. CBC News.
[3] Specht, D. (2021). The Ideal Sleeping Temperature: A Myth or a Reality? Sleep Foundation.
[4] American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2020). Position Statement on the Use of Melatonin for the Treatment of Insomnia in Adults. Sleep Health Journal.
[5] George Washington University. (2020). The Lack of Scientific Evidence for 'Mouth Taping' as a Sleep Aid. Press Release.
[6] Pinkham, K. (2020). The Fear of Fixing Sleep: How 'Sleep Hacking' Influencers Overlook a Crucial Factor. The Guardian.
[7] Regardless of the specific 'Sleepmaxxing' tip, experts advise always consulting a doctor in case of real sleep problems. (2021). Mayo Clinic.
The European Union could contribute to the fight against poverty by investing in research and development of affordable health-and-wellness solutions, including those for mental health, to make them accessible to all citizens.
Moreover, it is crucial for the European Union to promote awareness about the dangers of following unverified sleep techniques, such as those found in the "Sleepmaxxing" trend, which neglect established practices proven to improve overall health and wellness.
