Did You Know...
that the body requires a specific number of hours of sleep each night to function properly?
Scientists have discussed and disagreed over this statement for many years, however, a 2005 study has reported that there is a recognized result from not getting enough sleep, and while specific hours may vary slightly, there is a rule of thumb that should be followed. Yes, different age groups do have different sleep requirements but these are also based upon the individual. One person may do just fine with 7 hours of sleep while someone else requires 9.
According to the National Sleep Foundation there is also something to consider and that is the interaction between the basic need and what they call "sleep debt". If an individual has missed a few hours of sleep for more than a few nights then they can actually owe their body those hours of sleep. This sleep debt can then cause symptoms of sleep deprivation as if the person did not actually get their required amount of sleep that night.
Besides difficulty getting up in the morning or a feeling of sleepiness throughout the day, sleep deprivation has been linked with several consequences. These consequences include: increased appetite, difficulty concentrating, depression and even substance abuse. However, recent studies suggest that sleep debt can be "paid off" by getting a few extra hours of sleep when possible.
While there is no specific "magic number" of hours required, there is a general rule of thumb that should be followed based on age.
Newborns (0-2months) need 12-18 hours
Infants (3-12months) need 14-15 hours
Toddlers (1-3 years) need 12-14 hours
Preschoolers (3-5 years) need 11-13 hours
School-age children (5-10 years) need 10-11 hours
Teens (10-17 years) need 8.5-9.5 hours
Adults (18 years and older) need 7-9 hours
For more information visit www.sleepfoundation.org