Doctor warns couples against sharing a bed saying you should always sleep alone

A doctor has advised couples against sleeping next to each other in the same bed if they want to get a proper night's sleep, warning of the damaging effect sharing a bed can have on a person's health.

According to Dr Karan Rajan, if your partner ends up moving around too much in their sleep - or if they snore - this will most likely prevent you from entering REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the deepest stage of the sleep cycle.

Given how important quality sleep is for a person's overall health and wellbeing, a lack of it can have a serious physical and psychological impact.

Not everyone shares the same sort of sleep cycle, according to Dr Rajan, meaning one partner may well be chronically sleep-deprived, while the other is well-rested, or the other way around.

Not getting enough quality sleep can have a serious physical and psychological impact (Jam Press Vid/@dr.karanr)

Not everyone has the same type of sleep cycle (Jam Press Vid/@dr.karanr)

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Sleeping in separate beds is apparently also a good idea because of the triggers that help people drift off, including body temperature.

Dozing off beside another person raises body heat, and this can therefore lead to a person getting insufficient rest at night.

In a TikTok vid shared with his 4.8 million followers, Dr Karan, who works as a surgeon and lecturer at the University of Sunderland, said: "One of the triggers you need to be able to fall asleep, is the drop in core body temperature. Sharing a bed increases body heat so it'll take longer for you to fall asleep."

Sleeping next to your partner could be stopping you entering REM sleep (Jam Press Vid/@dr.karanr)

Sleeping next to another person raises body temperature, affecting your sleep (Jam Press Vid/@dr.karanr)

The viral video has since been viewed more than 242,500 times, clocking up over 25,000 likes and counting.

Followers have, of course, been left somewhat divided on Dr Karan's pearls of wisdom. While some swear by separate beds, others just can't imagine falling asleep without their other half by their side.

One married person approved, writing: “My husband and I have totally different sleep schedules and styles, we have slept separately for eight years, love it!”

Another agreed: “Post-divorce, THE BEST sleep of my life!"

However, a third individual disagreed, arguing that they "like cuddles" too much, while another person joked, "Tell that to my spoilt, over-indulged Yorkshire Terrier."

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