How Much Sleep Do You Actually Need?
Sep 01, 2023
Sleep seems like a luxury in the city that never sleeps. But sleep is as vital to living as food and water.
How much sleep do you actually need? According to experts, adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.
At NY Metro Sleep in the Bronx, New York, our sleep medicine expert Dr. Rajendra M. Rampersaud knows how hard it is for many people to get the amount of sleep they need.
In this month’s blog, we tell you how much sleep you need and why, and what you can do to get the right amount.
Your age is a factor in the amount of sleep you need. In general, healthy adults need a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night. Kids need more sleep than adults, with newborns and babies needing the most.
Though it’s okay to nap when you’re tired, you can’t make up your nightly sleep time with daytime naps. Yes, adults need at least seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, but that sleep should be high-quality, uninterrupted sleep.
Napping does not allow your body to get into the resting state necessary to properly repair and recuperate.
Getting an adequate amount of sleep every night makes you feel more awake and energized for the day. But that’s not the only benefit you get from sleep.
When you’re sleeping, your body is hard at work, repairing the damage that occurred during the day and prepping for the next. During sleep, your body removes waste (especially from the brain), makes immune cells and hormones, and lowers stress hormones.
Getting the recommended hours of sleep is good for your body and health and may lower your risk of future health problems like heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
We know your hours are filled with activities, leaving little time to relax and unwind. But some of the activities you choose to “relax” before bed may make it harder for you to fall asleep.
To get a good night of rest, we recommend:
We bring our electronics with us everywhere. But they should stay out of the bedroom. The light emitted by your TV, smartphone, computer, and tablet delays the release of your sleep hormones, making it harder to fall asleep. So, instead of using the TV to help you relax and unwind, read a book or take a bath.
We know it’s not easy for everyone to get a good night of rest, especially shift workers and people with sleep disorders. If sleep is hard for you, let us help.
Call our office today or book an appointment online to schedule a consultation with our sleep expert to talk to you about a sleep study.