Unlock Better Health: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Sleep is a vital component of our overall health and daily functioning. It’s the fuel that keeps our bodies and minds operating at their best. But how much sleep do we actually need?

The common notion that eight hours of sleep per night is necessary for everyone is not entirely accurate. In fact, the amount of sleep required varies from person to person. While some may need more than eight hours, others may function well with less.

However, it’s important to note that insufficient sleep can have negative impacts on our health. A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session revealed that getting less than seven hours of sleep per night is linked to a 7% increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Moreover, sleeping less than five hours a night is associated with an 11% higher risk.

“Most people need between seven and nine… That’s where it comes from,” says Shelby Harris, Psy. D., a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep medicine and the director of sleep health at Sleepopolis. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) also recommends that healthy adults should sleep at least seven hours a night on a regular basis for optimal health.

Dr. Molly Atwood, Ph. D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explains that a person’s sleep need is the number of hours they would sleep naturally — without external constraints or alarms — in order to wake up feeling rested and function the next day.

The distribution of sleep needs among adults resembles a bell-shaped curve, with the majority of people requiring between seven to nine hours. However, there are outliers on either side of the median. Dr. Atwood states, “Some people only need six and a half hours of sleep every night, whereas others may need more than nine hours to feel rested and function the next day.”

There are even some individuals who can function normally with just four hours of sleep per night due to a rare genetic mutation. However, these “short-sleepers” represent a tiny fraction of the population.

For the rest of us, regularly sleeping less than seven hours a night can lead to adverse health outcomes, warns the AASM. “When you go below six or seven hours of sleep, you start seeing a stronger association between sleep and health problems or death,” says Dr. Atwood. The risk increases the further you go below seven hours on a regular basis.

Quality of sleep and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule are also crucial. Dr. Andrew Varga, a neuroscientist and physician at the Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center, explains that during sleep, the body cycles through four different stages, broken down into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Most people go through three to five cycles a night, with the duration of REM sleep getting longer each subsequent cycle later in the night. This is referred to as the body’s “sleep architecture.”

Disruptions or abnormalities in sleep architecture can lead to poor sleep quality and, over time, sleep deprivation. Factors such as sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea, stress, and underlying health conditions can all affect sleep quality.

Occasional sleepless nights are common and usually manageable by catching up on sleep over the next few days. However, chronic sleep deprivation can have serious consequences.

In the short-term, lack of sleep can cause cognitive deficits, such as delayed reaction time, poorer working memory, and difficulty paying attention or completing tasks. Mood can also be affected, with individuals feeling more irritable or down after a night of insufficient sleep.

Long-term, chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Studies have also shown that people who habitually sleep less than six hours a night have a higher incidence of high blood pressure, kidney disease, and diabetes. It can also impact the immune system and affect metabolic functioning.

Dr. Atwood adds, “There’s more and more data coming out that it can increase your risk of cognitive issues as you get older, such as dementia.” Chronic sleep deprivation is also linked to an increased risk of mental health problems including depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

The amount of sleep a person needs changes throughout different stages of life, and will vary slightly depending on the individual and their health, behavior, and environment. The AASM recommends the following sleep durations for different age groups:

* Infants (4 to 12 months) need 12 to 16 hours, including naps
* Children (1 to 2 years) need 11 to 14 hours, including naps
* Children (3 to 5 years) need 10 to 13 hours, including naps
* Children (6 to 12 years) need 9 to 12 hours
* Teenagers (13 to 18 years) need 8 to 10 hours
* Adults need 7 or more hours

You know you’re getting enough sleep if you wake up feeling refreshed and can function throughout the day without feeling an overwhelming need to sleep. If you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep but still feel tired, this could be a sign of poor sleep quality. Signs of poor sleep quality include waking up throughout the night, snoring, and nighttime breathing difficulties.

Getting enough sleep every night can be a challenge due to various factors such as work obligations, school, parenting, lifestyle choices, and poor sleep hygiene. In fact, one-third of adults in the United States report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep.

If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, experts recommend avoiding screens for 30 minutes to one hour before bedtime and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. If you’re still having trouble, it may be beneficial to consult a doctor or a sleep medicine expert.

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