Monica Reed

Do you fall asleep with the TV on? It could be bad!

Photo: Shutterstock

Do you fall asleep with the TV on? It could be bad!

I usually keep the TV on with a timer while I fall asleep at night…I’ll put on the show Hoarders, Rust Valley Restorers or Forensic Files.  I put a timer on for about an hour but usually do not get past the first 15 minutes, then it’s off to dreamland!   But, there are two types of people: You either like falling asleep with the television ON, or you like it off. The problem is when two people who share a bed can’t agree on that. Here’s some new info that will be on the side of the people who want it OFF.

A new study in Austria suggests falling asleep with the TV on might be messing with the QUALITY of your sleep. And the reason is interesting.

Doctors scanned people’s brains while they slept, and found that hearing unfamiliar voices . . . like actors on a TV show . . . can trigger something called “micro-arousals.”

That’s when you ALMOST wake up. And if it happens too many times, you can end up groggy the next day. Familiar voices . . . like people you live with . . . didn’t do it as much. Only unfamiliar voices had a big effect.

It also didn’t make a difference during REM cycles, or deep sleep. It only mattered during non-REM sleep. But a full night’s rest is only about 20% REM. So if you leave your TV on all night, a large chunk of your sleep could be affected.

They think it’s our brain’s way of protecting us while we’re sleeping, because any unfamiliar sound could mean there’s a THREAT nearby.

So if you like to sleep with the TV on, at least use your sleep timer. Then it won’t affect you all night long.

 

News from ClarksvilleNow.com

yesterday in Crime, News

2 shot on Main Street in downtown Clarksville

Two people were shot Wednesday night in downtown Clarksville.

A man was shot in the 400 block of Ringgold Road on Sept. 30, 2025. (Dash 10 Media)

yesterday in Crime, News

UPDATE: Suspect in Ringgold Road fatal shooting turns himself in, booked into jail

A young man was shot Tuesday night on Ringgold Road in Clarksville, and despite an overnight search, the suspect remains at large.

yesterday in Business, Military, News

How does government shutdown affect Fort Campbell soldiers, employees?

The U.S. government has shut down as of Oct. 1, affecting federal workers across the country, including 30,100 Fort Campbell soldiers and 8,500 civilian employees on post.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during a War Department address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025.

Tuesday in Military, News

Secretary of War Hegseth announces series of reforms, from fitness tests to shaving

Here’s what Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said about the 10 new directives that will be rolled out to Fort Campbell and soldiers across the armed forces.

Tuesday in News

Widened roads, safer fire stations: City Council prepares wish list for state legislature

The city’s 2026 legislative agenda focuses on road projects, fire department upgrades and stricter code enforcement.