Your Guide to Healthy Sleep

• Introduction to sleep
• What is sleep?
• How much sleep is enough?
• Why sleep is good for you and skimping on sleep isn't
• How much sleep do you need?
• Tips for a good nights sleep
• Could you have a sleep disorder?

Are You Sleep Deprived? Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD No matter how much sleep you need, if you don't get enough, you will suffer the effects of sleep deprivation. Research has shown that in tests of driving ability and hand-eye coordination, people deprived of sleep perform as badly as, or even worse than, people who are intoxicated. It's no wonder that drowsiness is a major cause of traffic accidents and deaths. Individuals vary in their need for sleep. Some people require nine or more hours of sleep per night, while others may not feel deprived after just five hours of sleep. But the average adult requires seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Are you getting enough sleep? Ask yourself the following questions: Do you often feel drowsy during the day? Do you usually fall asleep within the first five minutes after lying down in bed? Read more to find out if you are sleep deprived » Top Searched Sleep Terms: sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, sleep aids, sleep walking, narcolepsy, sleep medications

Introduction to sleep

When you're in a rush to meet work, school, family, or household responsibilities, do you cut back on your sleep? Like many people, you might think that sleep is merely a "down time" when the brain shuts off and the body rests. Think again.

What is sleep?

Sleep was long considered just a uniform block of time when you are not awake. Thanks to sleep studies done over the past several decades, it is now known that sleep has distinctive stages that cycle throughout the night. Your brain stays active throughout sleep, but different things happen during each stage. For instance, certain stages of sleep are indeed for us to feel well rested and energetic the next day, and other stages help us learn or make memories.

In brief, a number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. On the other hand, not getting enough sleep can be dangerous-for example, you are more likely to be in a car crash if you drive when you are drowsy.

How much sleep is enough?

Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Newborns, on the other hand, sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day, and children in preschool sleep between 10 and 12 hours a day. School-aged children and teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.

Some people believe that adults need less sleep as they get older. But there is no evidence to show that older people can get by with less sleep than younger people. As people age, however, they often get less sleep or they tend to spend less time in the deep, restful stages of sleep. Older people are also more easily awakened.

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