It's 2:00 a.m. and you're still staring at the ceiling. You've been tossing and turning for hours, but sleep just won't come. You know you have to get up early for work in the morning, but you can't seem to make yourself care. After all, what's the harm in sleeping late? Turns out, quite a lot.
Are 5-6 Hours of Sleep Enough? How Much Sleep Do You Need?
Most people need around 8 hours of sleep a day. However, some people claim that they can function perfectly fine on just 5-6 hours of sleep. So, is 5-6 hours of sleep enough?
It turns out that the answer largely depends on the person. Some people are so-called "short sleepers," who only need a few hours of sleep to feel rested and energized. In fact, they are at their maximum with less than 6 hours of sleep per night. Why? Genetics.
On the other hand, most people need at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep to function optimally.
So, if you're one of those rare short sleepers, then 5-6 hours of sleep may be enough for you. But if you're like most people, you'll probably need more than that to feel your best.
What Is The Ideal Amount Of Sleep?
Many factors can affect how much sleep a person needs, such as age, health, lifestyle, and work schedule. For example, young children and teenagers typically need more sleep than adults do because their bodies and brains are still developing. Older adults may need less sleep than younger adults do because they often have trouble sleeping through the night due to health conditions or medications.
The following are the recommendations for each age group:
Newborn | 14-17 hours |
Infants | 12 to 15 hours |
Toddlers | 11 to 14 hours |
Preschoolers | 10 to 13 hours |
School-aged children | 9 to 11 hours |
Teenagers | 8 to 9 hours |
Young adults | 7 to 9 hours |
Adults | 7 to 9 hours |
Older adults | 7 to 8 hours |
The amount of sleep you require is determined by your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that tells you when to sleep or wake up. Circadian rhythms are affected by sleep chemicals such as melatonin as well as environmental cues such as light and darkness.
Effects Of Not Getting Enough Sleep
If you find yourself yawning all day long or struggling to keep your eyes open, it may be a sign that you're not getting enough sleep. Other possible signs of insufficient sleep include:
Waking up frequently during the night
Feeling irritable or moody
Having trouble concentrating during the day
Memory isn't as sharp as it used to be
Get sick more often
Gaining weight or struggling to lose weight
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to talk to your doctor to see if there's an underlying cause.
What Happens To Your Health If You Don't Get Enough Sleep?
Most people know that getting a good night’s sleep is important for their health, but many don’t realize just how vital it is. Sleep is essential for the body to repair and rejuvenate itself, and without enough of it, serious health problems can develop due to chronic sleep deprivation.
Lack of sleep has been linked to a number of health conditions, including:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Obesity
Impair cognitive function
Depression
Increase the risk of accidents and injuries
Then, Why Aren't We Getting Adequate Sleep?
There are many reasons why people aren't getting adequate sleep. For one, our culture values productivity and busyness over rest and relaxation. We are always encouraged to do more, be more, and achieve more. This can lead to chronic stress and anxiety, which make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Another reason why we aren't getting enough sleep is that we often use screens late at night. The blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone that makes us feel sleepy. This can make it harder to fall asleep and can also disrupt our natural sleep cycles.
Finally, many of us simply don't make enough time for sleep. We may stay up late working (shift work) or socializing, or we may have early morning obligations that make it hard to get a full night's rest.
Persistent difficulty sleeping can be also a symptom of an ongoing health disorder, such as sleep apnea, or another medical condition.
Is It OK To Sleep Late But Still Get A Full 8 Hours of Sleep Then?
Natural circadian rhythms differ from person to person. Some people naturally go to bed at 10 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m. Some people go to bed at 3 a.m. and wake up late. In the end, it doesn't really matter what time you sleep; what matters is that you sleep enough to wake up easily and feel good during your awake time.
However, you can develop a habit that makes it difficult to get up early for something important. This can have an impact on your social and work life.
Regularity is also important. According to studies, changing your sleep schedule causes significant stress on your body and mind. People who work in shifts are less healthy on average than those who work the same shift every day.
Takeaway
Sleep is essential for good health. Inadequate sleep can impair brain performance and, in the long run, increase the risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, mental disorder and diabetes.
Every night, try to get seven to eight hours of sleep. Practice good sleep hygiene to help you sleep better.
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