The National Sleep Foundation has put together a list of hours by age that people should sleep. When your body doesn’t get the sleep it needs, it results in physical exhaustion. This can cause one not to clearly think about important things, unable to concentrate on tasks, make good decisions and weight loss.
Sleeping problems will lead to even more serious health issues. For example, sleeping less than five hours a night will raise the chances of heart disease. If you sleep less than seven hours, you could develop diabetes, become obese or even have weight loss. It’s extremely important – for your health – that you get the recommended sleep each night. Sleep gives you mental clarity and energy all day long.
Harvard University Professor Charles Czeisler carried out a study to determine what timeframe was necessary for sleep. She looked at the result of various studies over a 10-year period (2004 to 2014). She came up with the chart below on the recommended number hours of sleep based on each age range.
· Newborn (0 to 3 months): 14 to 17 hours
· Babies (4 to 11 months): 12 to 15 hours
· Children (1-2 years): 11 to 14 hours
· Preschool (3-5 years): 10 to 13 hours
· School age (6-13 years): 9 to 11 hours
· Teens (14 to 17): 8 to 10 hours
· Youth and Adults (18-64 years): 7 to 9 hours
· Seniors (65+): 7 to 8 hours
The hours for each person will vary, which means you must learn what your hours of rest and sleep are that allows you to circumvent any health problems. Sleep problems are often the result of technology and stress.
When the body is stressed out, it causes the body to release more cortisol, a stress hormone. The increase in cortisol decreases the good feelings and keeps the body from getting the sleep it needs.
On top of that, technology discharges a light that keeps the body from released melatonin – another reason for sleep problems. Melatonin is a necessity to sleep, which is why everybody should sleep with the lights and electronics off. Don’t use the TV, cell phone or laptop for several hours before you go to bed.
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