adults sleep how long
The homeostatic sleep drive reminds the body to sleep after a certain time and regulates sleep intensity. This sleep drive gets stronger every hour you are awake and causes you to sleep longer and more deeply after a period of sleep deprivation. You spend more of your repeated sleep cycles in stage 2 sleep than in other sleep stages. Stage 3 non-REM sleep is the period of deep sleep that you need to feel refreshed in the morning. It occurs in longer periods during the first half of the night. And over the long-term, chronic sleep loss can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. By understanding your nightly sleep needs and how to bounce back from sleep loss, you can finally get on a healthy sleep schedule and improve the quality of your waking life. Why is sleep so important? There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function optimally. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night. In today’s fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound pretty good. Sleep is an important part of your daily routine—you spend about one-third of your time doing it. Quality sleep – and getting enough of it at the right times -- is as essential to survival as food and water. While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more. And despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least 7 hours of sleep. Since older adults often have trouble sleeping this long at night, daytime naps can help fill in the gap. The effects include: 1  Fatigue, lethargy, and lack of motivation. 2  Moodiness and irritability; increased risk of depression. 3  Decreased sex drive; relationship problems. 4  Impaired brain activity; learning, concentration, and memory problems. 5  Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills; difficulty making decisions. There is no magic “number of sleep hours” that works for everybody of the same age. Babies initially sleep as much as 16 to 18 hours per day, which may boost growth and development (especially of the brain). School-age children and teens on average need about 9.5 hours of sleep per night. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but after age 60, nighttime sleep tends to be shorter, lighter, and interrupted by multiple awakenings. Elderly people are also more likely to take medications that interfere with sleep. How to get the sleep that you need. 1  Sleep Tips for Older Adults: Overcoming Insomnia and Getting Better Sleep. 2  Sleeping Pills & Natural Sleep Aids: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Products. 3  Sleep Disorders and Problems: Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help. You may be sleep deprived if you... 1  Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time. 2  Rely on the snooze button. 3  Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. 4  Feel sluggish in the afternoon. 5  Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms. 6  Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving. 7  Need to nap to get through the day.
Most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best.