When work parenting and a packed social schedule leave you little time for shut-eye, you might think getting by on just six hours of sleep a night is a good compromise. So how much sleep is too little, and how much is enough to support a long, healthy life? Here’s what the experts have to say about how much sleep you need a sleep physician and spokesperson for the AASM, stressed that anything less could have dire consequences for your health. “Long-term consequences from inadequate sleep duration have been associated with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular disease, Adults aged 18 to 60 should strive for a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night, while older adults may need closer to nine hours. For teenagers, that number increases to 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. This helps keep sleep patterns in line with natural circadian rhythms, which change during adolescence, leading teens to stay up later at night and sleep longer in the morning. It’s better to get all your sleep hours simultaneously and consistently. If your daytime schedule allows it, have a goal of 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily at consistent times,” he said. “For some people, this may require organizing daily activities to finish before bedtime. For others, having an alarm reminding you to wind down and prepare for bed can be helpful If you want to adjust your sleep schedule, the Sleep Foundation recommends picking your ideal sleep and wake times and then adjusting your sleep schedule in 15 to 30-minute increments each day.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2024