Posts
 |
| Image Credit: By Szűcs László szucslaszlo (https://unsplash.com/photos/0gdHUhYkXDc) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons |
While there is no disagreement on the fact "a good sleep is essential for good health" but plenty of difference of opinion exists on "what constitutes a good sleep".
Sleep is a vast subject of study and no one article can describe all parameters of good sleep. Today we would cover only one aspect of sleep i.e. the duration of sleep per night required for optimal health. We shall look into the quality aspects some other day.
1. What is the recommended duration of sleep for healthy adults?
The recommended duration of sleep per night is 7 to 9 hours per night on a regular basis. Sleeping less than 7 hours per night is known as "Short sleep". On the other hand, sleeping more than 9 hours per night is known as "Long sleep".
2. Why does the body need 7-9 hours of sleep?
The body needs 7-9 hours per night to bring back the brain to its normal functioning levels. As the brain cells work for long hours they need time to rejuvenate and clean up. The exact mechanism of these processes is not fully understood.
3. How does "Short sleep" affect the individual chances of acquiring diseases?
Short sleep has been linked with increased individual risk of weight gain and obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, depression, death, impaired immune function, increased pain, impaired performance, increased errors, and greater risk of accidents. Surveys indicate that the percentage of people with short sleep is increasing.
4. How does "Long sleep" affect the individual chances of acquiring diseases?
Long sleep has been linked with increased individual risk of death, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.
5. When it is OK to sleep for less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours?
Some special circumstances may require sleeping less than 7 hours per night temporarily.
Generally, it has short term effects like impaired performance, increased errors, and greater risk of accidents but does not affect the health of individuals on a long term basis, but it should never become a regular habit. When one is recovering from a temporary short sleep or some illnesses people generally experience long sleeps, but once again it should not build up into a routine.
To maximize our chances of a healthy life and to reduce our risks of suffering from many important diseases, let us build a sleep routine of 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Happy Sleeping!
About the author: Dr. Naval Asija is a licensed MBBS Physician from India. MBBS is the equivalent of the MD degree offered by international medical schools. He is based in Delhi, India, and works as a medical writer, editor, and consultant. He supports medical researches as an author's editor, medical communication companies involved in medico-marketing activities, and medical technology companies in improving their products. He can be contacted via his LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navalasija/
Disclaimer: The content provided here is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. If you consider taking any action based on the above information, we recommend that it should be first confirmed with your doctor. Our detailed disclaimer statement can be read on our homepage.
About the author: Dr. Naval Asija is a licensed MBBS Physician from India. MBBS is the equivalent of the MD degree offered by international medical schools. He is based in Delhi, India, and works as a medical writer, editor, and consultant. He supports medical researches as an author's editor, medical communication companies involved in medico-marketing activities, and medical technology companies in improving their products. He can be contacted via his LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navalasija/
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. The comments are moderated and it may take some time to get live.