8 hours of sleep: A Luxury or Necessity?
The human body and mind are not designed to function without sleep. While the struggle of getting 8 hours of sleep is a hefty task on its own these days, the brain is designed to be active during the day and switch off at night. This means that going without sleep for long periods can have a serious impact on your mental and physical health and safety. If you’re facing difficulty in getting any sleep at all, head over to medambien to see which sleep medication suits you the best!
However, while we are used to having a fixed amount of sleep each night, this isn’t how it works in practice. Your day will vary depending on how much sleep you’ve had in the past few days, what time zone you’re in, and other factors such as stress levels.
What sleep type suits you the best?
First of all, it’s important to note that there are different types of sleep. There’s deep sleep, which occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and is often the most restful part of the night. Then there’s light sleep, which occurs between waking up and falling asleep and is generally what we tend to think of as “rest.” Then there’s active dreaming, which occurs during REM sleep but doesn’t count as “sleep” for our purposes here.
People typically need around 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal health and functioning, but it’s also important to note that not everyone needs this amount of time to feel well-rested. If you’re an early riser or generally don’t feel sleepy until later in the evening, your body may not need 8 hours of sleep at night — or maybe only 6 or 7 hours would be enough. The important thing here is that you get enough sleep each day so your body can function properly throughout the day
Lifestyle
The truth is that it depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead and what your goals are in life. If your goal is to get enough rest to feel great throughout the day, then eight hours may not be enough for you at times. On the other hand, if your goal is only to get six hours, then this may be the perfect amount for you because it leaves plenty of time for other things, such as exercise and getting work done on the computer at night.
If you have a demanding job or are involved in many social activities during your day, eight hours sounds like too much sleep. In this case, maybe four or five hours would be more appropriate for most people.
Across the Globe
8 hours of sleep is usually considered a luxury because we don’t need that much time to function well. However, if you compare 8 hours of sleep with how much other people in the world get, it becomes clear how important it is.
In the US, only about 60% of children aged 5-17 get the recommended amount of sleep (6-9 hours), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In some parts of Africa — where people live tough lives with few resources — less than half of children aged 5-17 get even five hours of sleep each night. And in some developing countries like Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia, only about 40% of people aged 15-49 get any sleep at all.
What do the experts say?
The number of hours of sleep a person needs depends on their age, gender, and physical condition. However, it is essential to note that even the recommended amount of sleep may not be enough for some people.
Sleep experts say that adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their peak, but many people are not getting enough sleep. According to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, one in four adults get less than six hours per night on average. In addition, on average, people who work at night have more trouble falling asleep.
Some researchers believe that this is because poor sleep can lead to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline being released during the day. These hormones cause our bodies to release more adrenaline in response to stress or pain. This can lead to increased appetite due to higher ghrelin levels, which stimulates hunger. Chronically sleep-deprived people also have higher levels of insulin resistance and inflammation, which can lead to weight gain.
The best way to ensure we get enough restful sleep is by ensuring quality naps throughout the day and taking regular short catnaps during the day if needed.
Benefits of Optimal Sleep
Not only does it give your body time to repair itself, but studies have shown that people who get the recommended amount of sleep tend to have fewer mood swings and feel more focused. Conversely, getting less than 6 hours can lead to problems such as decreased cognitive performance, increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, and even an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Excessive Sleeping
Getting too much sleep can negatively affect your mood as well. People who sleep too much are more prone to depression and anxiety disorders. They also tend to be less productive at work because they’re not able to stay focused on tasks for extended periods
Insomnia
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) estimates that Americans get, on average, seven to eight hours of sleep each night. The NSF also estimates that one-third of the population suffers from some form of insomnia, which can be caused by stress or anxiety, illness, or pain.
One in three adults suffers from insomnia. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in America today. It affects both men and women equally and can be so debilitating that it leads to substance abuse, risk-taking behavior, and high crash rates among drivers who are tired from insufficient sleep.
Insomnia can also lead to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. And it’s not just adults who have insomnia; children spend about half their nights in bed awake at any given point in their lives, according to a recent study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
Why such a high prevalence rate? Researchers at Stanford believe it may have something to do with our modern lifestyle — particularly the fact that we work longer hours than ever before and live in an environment where technology has replaced face-to-face interactions with people as the primary way we communicate with each other.
Conclusion
The truth is that science isn’t there yet. No experiment has been done involving the effects of eight hours of sleep versus seven hours or nine hours on the human body over some time. There is, however, plenty of research that demonstrates the importance of a healthy amount of sleep to an individual’s mental and physical well-being. And for all we know, 8 hours of sleep may be more conducive to an individual’s health than 7 or 9. Your best bet? Stick with the recommended amount for your age group, and start evaluating how you feel when you get more or less than that.
The bottom line: if you’re not sleeping well, try adjusting the number from there, with a doctor’s guidance, of course.
