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One of the first and clearest signs that you are suffering from a lack of sleep is, logically, tiredness. Often this is accompanied by distractibility, an inability to concentrate, difficulty making decisions, and irritability. Do you recognize yourself in this? Then today’s article is just for you.
Why sleep is important
These symptoms are not the only indicators of sleep deprivation. One night without sleep won’t hurt anyone, but if it is a long-term problem, you are playing with your health. Too little sleep can cause
- diabetes
- obesity
Be careful about that. Give your body enough time to regenerate and recover. The brain needs time to calm down and sort all the new information into the right places. Organs need to slow down and rest. Find out with us how many hours of sleep you need.
Scientists at Harvard University produced a study that examined how many hours we need depending on age. It turned out that each age category has different needs. If a person sleeps less, it will reflect negatively on their health.
Each age needs a different amount of sleep
Newborns up to three months really sleep a lot. Their bodies develop rapidly, and therefore they need to sleep 14 to 17 hours every day. Babies from 3 to 11 months need 12 to 15 hours. Children from 1 to 2 years sleep 11 to 14 hours. Preschool, „kindergarten“ children should sleep 9 to 11 hours.
Now we are slowly reaching more common values. Teenagers aged 14 to 17 should sleep 8 to 10 hours. Young adults from 18 to 25 years 7 to 9 hours. Adults are the same. If you are 26 to 64 years old, allow yourself 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Seniors over 65 should sleep at least 7 or 8 hours.
Main reasons for sleep problems
There are two big problems behind almost every case of a sleep disorder. The first is stress. Unfortunately people encounter it day after day. In stressful situations the level of the hormone cortisol rises. Once its amount is too high, the body has trouble falling asleep and if you finally manage to fall asleep, you will be “rewarded” with restless and interrupted sleep.
The second problem is technology. Light from electronic devices blocks the production of melatonin, which helps you fall asleep. That is why it is important to fall asleep in a dark room without the glare of TV or monitor screens.
