Getting a good night’s rest has a multitude of benefits. The amount of sleep a person needs depends on many factors, including age. For example, in general:
- Infants require about 14-15 hours a day.
- Teenagers need about 8.5-9.5 hours on average.
- Most adults need 7-9 hours a night for the best amount of sleep. But some people may need as few as 6 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day.
If you feel drowsy during the day, even during boring activities, then you have not had enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep can help you do the following:
- Protect the waistline: People who are well rested do not consume as many calories per day. The part of the brain that controls sleep also plays a role in appetite and metabolism.
- Make you smarter: When you sleep, the brain sorts through all the stuff you learned the day before. It helps the brain to retain important information.
- Brighten your mood: Tossing and turning all night can make you cranky. Sleep allows the mind and body to rest, gathering up the resources it needs to have energy for the next day. It can also help manage stress and help prevent depression.
- Heal from the inside out: Quality sleep can help your body defend itself. While you sleep, the body creates more white blood cells that attack viruses and bacteria. The brain triggers the release of hormones that encourage tissue growth vital to recovering from injuries such as cuts or sore muscles.
- Guard your heart: Sleep provides heart-health benefits. For instance, the blood pressure dips while you sleep and that gives the heart a break. Also, the body tweaks stress hormones, which in turn may curb inflammation, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.
- Tackle those tough decisions: It’s true that people should sleep on the big issues. Getting a good night’s rest will help you think better in the morning. It can also boost creativity, allowing you to find the best solution for a problem.
The consequences of too little sleep can cause memory problems, depression, weakened immune system and increased in perception of pain. See your doctor if you are having difficulty or concerns about sleep. Changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise can help with sleep problems.
By Zachary J. Baeseman, MD, MPH, ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca
