Without doubt, regular, quality sleep is vital for our overall health and wellbeing. Sleep enables our body and mind to rest and restore its functions and prepare for a new day. Unfortunately, insomnia and insufficient sleep can cause different health-related complications. When we do not get enough sleep during the night, our entire day is comprised because of our lack of energy.
What Triggers Sleeping Problems?
Sleep problems can be a consequence of numerous contributing factors, but stress and modern technology are the biggest ones. Excessive amounts of stress encourage the production of cortisol and when its levels are constantly high, the risk of diseases, discomfort, and sleep disorders is much bigger.
The different gadgets we use on a daily basis are known to release light which prevents the production of melatonin, which can lead to irregular sleeping patterns. In turn, this can cause loss of appetite, tiredness, lack of concentration, poor decision-making, and inability to think clearly.
How Much Sleep We Need?
A lot of studies point out that there is a close link between lack of sleep and specific health problems. With this in mind, it is good to know how much sleep we need to reduce the negative effect on our health. To illustrate, people who get less than 5 hours of sleep have a higher risk of heart problems whereas those who sleep less than 7 hours can be more prone to weight gain and diabetes.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the recommended daily hours of sleep are conditioned by age. From 2004 to 2010, Charles Czeisler, a Harvard professor, and his team conducted a study in which they analyzed the effects of sleep on our health and their aim was to find the appropriate hours of sleep for every age group. This is what they concluded:
Newborns from 0 to 3 months need 14 to 17 hours of sleep
Babies from 4 to 11 months need 12 to 15 hours of sleep
Children from 1 to 2 years need 11 to 14 hours of sleep
Preschool children from 3 to 5 need 10 to 13 hours of sleep
School age children from 6 to 13 need 9 to 11 hours of sleep
Teens from 14 to 17 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep
Youth from 18 to 25 need 7 to 9 hours of sleep
Adults from 24 to 64 need 7 to 9 hours of sleep
Seniors over 65 need 7 to 8 hours of sleep
This being said, to prevent serious health complications and give the body the rest it deserves and needs, make sure you get enough quality sleep every night.
