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Ask a dozen researchers why we sleep and you are likely to get a dozen slightly different answers. The truth is no one is exactly sure why people need to sleep. About the only thing everyone agrees on is if we do not get enough sleep things go south in a hurry. All of this begs the question “How much should an adult sleep?” In this post, the team at Benmore’s Beds will do our best to answer that question.
According to experts at both the UK Sleep Council and the US National Sleep Foundation adults aged 18 to 64 years should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. While adults 65 and over should get 7 to 8 hours per night. While some will be able to operate just fine on 7 hours of sleep per night, others will need every minute of their 9 hours of sleep to be at their best.
Note: These numbers assume people are otherwise healthy and do not have a compelling need to get more sleep than normal.
As we said earlier few experts agree on why we need to sleep but all agree on what happens if we do not get enough sleep. The dangers of sleep deprivation are many and include:
Fatigue: Most people who do not get enough sleep walk around in a state of perpetual fatigue. This is more than just an annoyance as fatigue can lead to accidents and reduced job performance.
Decreased brain function: Sleep deprivation is known to cause forgetfulness, confusion and short-term memory loss. Chronic sleep deprivation is thought to contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Irritability: When people do not get enough sleep they tend to become irritable, moody and hard to get along with. This is true for both men and women. Chronic sleep deprivation may also lead to depression.
Long-term health issues: Over time not getting enough sleep can increase the odds of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, immune system dysfunction and hormonal imbalances.
We could go on, but you get the idea. Not getting enough sleep is not good for you.
How much should an adult sleep? Anywhere from 7 to 9 hours depending on their age, with older individuals typically needing slightly less sleep than younger ones. Make sure you get a great night’s sleep by purchasing your next bed at Benmore’s Beds.