Most adults in the US are sleep deprived. Not only do we need enough sleep, 7-8 hours each night, but we need good quality sleep. It’s important to have a regular sleep schedule and to feel rested after you have had a full night’s sleep.
Children need more sleep than adults: 1
- Teens need 8-10 hours nightly
- School aged need 9-12 hours nightly
- Preschoolers need 10-13 hours per day including naps
- Toddlers need 11-14 hours per day including naps
- Babies need 12-16 hours per day including naps
There are many health benefits derived from adequate sleep: 1
- maintain good health
- maintain a healthy weight
- lower risk for heart disease or diabetes
- stress reduction and mood elevation
- road safety
- better judgment
If you have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or getting good quality sleep, you can make some changes to your daytime behavior to help you sleep more effectively: 1
If you feel like you aren’t getting enough good quality sleep, see a doctor. You could have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. If any of these symptoms are present, you should also see a doctor: 1
Adequate and high quality sleep is extremely important to your good health. Even a small decrease in sleep can lead to:
The bottom line is that sleep is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your good health. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, see a doctor for help. You will be amazed at how much better you feel after a good night’s sleep. Sweet dreams.
