5 Myths About Women's Bodies

Myth: Women and men need equal amounts of sleep.



Tossing and turning not only causes women more psychological distress, it also raises their insulin and inflammation levels—risk factors for compromised health, found a 2008 study of 210 people led by Edward Suarez at Duke University.

 

A study of more than 6,000 participants, led by researchers at the University of Warwick in 2007, found that women who slept five or less hours a night were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension than women who slept for seven or more hours. Among men, there was no such relationship. Sleeping Beauty may be better off waking up on her own watch.