Li Qiuying, a professor at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, told Chutian Metropolis Daily that people suffering from sleep disorders should give up the habit of working past midnight. Li said it is best for adults to go to bed between 10 and 11 p.m., while sleeping long hours over the weekend will do nothing to compensate for weekday sleep shortages. "Sleeping longer does not mean sleeping better," Li said.

Hu Ke, another professor at Renmin Hospital, was quoted as saying that taking sleeping pills cannot help all sleeping disorder sufferers and those people should always consult a doctor to find the most suitable treatment.

Shi Xiaohong, a doctor at Henan Provincial People's Hospital, told Xinhua News Agency that the side effects of sleeping pills have been exaggerated. Insomnia's damage to health is much more severe than that of sleeping pills, Shi said. But he also emphasized the necessity of a doctor's guidance before taking any medicine.

People working on their night shifts could feel cold, dizzy and sick since their bodies cannot rest when their temperatures naturally drop at nighttime, Shi said. When these symptoms occur, sleep can overcome them better than any food or nutrition. Shi also said chronic insomnia patients are more vulnerable to respiratory and digestive infections and have a higher incidence of cancer compared to healthy people.

Shi said people using cigarettes, coffee and cola to stay awake may cause themselves more damage since their stimulating effects of those products will keep their brains excited for long periods and prevent rest. He said insomnia sufferers should not drink alcohol in the evening to fall asleep since the ensuing damage could make matters worse.

Typical Low-quality Sleep

Falling asleep while watching TV, listening to music or playing computer games;

Changing the time at which you go to bed and get up;

Staying in bed and forcing oneself to sleep again after waking up in the morning;

Staying up late at night and sleeping in the daytime;

Going to bed immediately after intensive work.