Sleep Disorders
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. 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?
If you answered yes to either of these, you're likely to be sleep deprived or have a sleep disorder. There are many different types of sleep disorders. Examples include:
- insomnia,
- sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea,
- periodic limb movement disorder, and...
