The five most Googled questions around sleep

Millions of Brits are turning to Google every month to find out what is normal when it comes to sleep, from how much deep sleep they need to whether sleep apnoea can be dangerous.

New search data from Comfybedss, online sellers of beds and mattresses, has revealed the five most Googled sleep questions in the UK each month, with sleep apnoea, REM sleep, deep sleep and magnesium among the biggest areas of confusion.

'Can sleep apnoea kill you' is the highest, with 14,000 monthly searches, equating to 467 searches DAILY, on average.

The five most searched sleep questions are:

1. Can sleep apnoea kill you? – 14,000 monthly searches
2. How much deep sleep do you need? – 12,000 monthly searches
3. Does magnesium help you sleep? – 11,000 monthly searches
4. What is sleep apnoea? – 10,000 monthly searches
5. What is REM sleep? – 8,300 monthly searches

To help educate Brits on what these common sleep concerns really mean, GP and sleep expert, Dr Deborah Lee has answered each of the questions and explained when people should seek medical advice.

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FIVE most Googled questions each month around sleep answered by an expert

Each month, millions of Brits take to Google to find out what is considered normal about their sleeping patterns by asking Google questions around their routine.

There are key questions that are being asked each month repeatedly, showing that there needs to be mass education around one of the most important aspects of life, sleep.

Comfybedss, online sellers of beds and mattresses, has looked at what questions Brits are asking on a monthly basis around their sleeping patterns.

However, sleep expert, Dr Deborah Lee from Doctor Fox, working closely with Comfybedss, wants to educate Brits on the answers to these five key questions:

1. Can sleep apnea kill you? - 14k monthly searches

“Sleep apnea itself won’t exactly ‘kill’ you in a way that illnesses might, although it can lead to serious health problems further down the line. 

Sleep apnea, a condition that causes repeated pauses in breathing as you’re sleeping, contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even accidents that can be related to daytime fatigue.

In extremely severe cases, these risks can compound and become fatal, so you’re best getting it checked by a doctor sooner rather than later, especially if you have several of the symptoms that come alongside sleep apnea. These include choking during sleeping, loud snoring or excessive tiredness throughout the day.

The good news is that it is treatable, usually with some generic lifestyle changes, CPAP machines or medical interventions.”

2. How much deep sleep do you need? 12k monthly searches

“This isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer, and the right answer is dependent on each person. Some people may feel as though they can’t function if they get under eight hours sleep a night, whereas some people may feel as though anything above five works perfectly well for them. However, it is recommended that we aim for around seven hours of sleep a night.

The amount of deep sleep that you get will depend on lifestyle factors, age and overall health. Stereotypically, teenagers are renowned to stay in bed until the middle of the morning - and this is exactly why. Meanwhile, if you’re over the age of 50+, you might consider yourself very lucky compared to your friends and family!

Deep sleep, known to some people as the slow-wave sleep, is the most physically restorative stage of the sleep cycle, making up around 10-25% of the total sleep. During this stage, your body repairs tissues, builds muscle, strengthens the immune systems and even consolidates memories.

The easiest way to know whether you have had enough deep sleep is by waking up refreshed, alert and ready to seize the day!”

3. Does magnesium help you sleep? - 11k monthly searches

“Magnesium can help you fix your sleep, but it isn’t a magic pill. It can help lower cortisol levels and also support the production of melatonin, what everyone needs to help get a better night’s sleep.

However, the evidence is fairly mixed on magnesium, and it’ll differ on a case-by-case basis. If you’re struggling to sleep and you’ve not made any lifestyle changes before taking magnesium, i.e, reducing smoking, drinking, sugary drinks etc, then do this before becoming reliant on magnesium.

However, before taking magnesium, it’s important to see your GP beforehand if you have any chronic medical conditions or take regular medication.”

4. What is sleep apnea? 10k monthly searches

“Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), happens when the muscles in the throat relax too much, temporarily blocking the airway. 

This leads to waking up throughout the night, often without you even noticing, as your body struggles to get back into the rhythm of breathing. 

Symptoms typically include loud snoring, gasping for breath or choking during sleep, morning headaches, and as it can lead to reduced time in REM sleep, it can therefore lead to increased daytime sleepiness.

Because these interruptions can happen hundreds of times each night, sleep apnea stops you from reaching deeper, restorative stages of sleep. 

5. What is REM sleep? - 8.3k monthly searches

“REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, and this type of sleep is the stage of the cycle that is most associated with dreaming.

It typically occurs in cycles throughout the night, becoming longer in the early morning hours. 

During REM sleep, brain activity increases to levels similar to when you’re awake, while the body temporarily becomes paralysed to prevent you from acting out dreams. 

This stage plays a crucial role in emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and learning. Adults usually spend around 20–25% of their sleep in REM, which equates to roughly 90 to 120 minutes per night. 

Disruptions to REM sleep, often caused by stress, alcohol, or poor sleep routines, can leave you feeling mentally foggy and seriously fatigued throughout the day, even if you’ve had a long-enough sleep overall.”

ENDS