In our fast paced world we must remember why sleep is important for health. Sleep serves a valuable role for our body. As such, we must do what is necessary to provide our body with what is needed to thrive.
According to the National Institute for Health, the average American adults sleeps less than 7 hours per night. This is below the advised amount for the body.
What is the recommended amount of sleep for an adult? 7-9 hours is the recommended amount for an adult. More is suggested for kids and teens.
A 2013 Gallup poll found 40% of American adults gets less than the suggested 7-9 hours. Work and family are often cited reasons for lack enough. While it is true you can function on less than 7 hours, is it advisable? What are the potential issues with sleeping less than the recommended amount?
Lack of sleep has been linked to a variety of issues including chronic fatigue, cardiac issues, increased mental strain, and slowed healing. It is easy to understand how lack of sleep leads to fatigue, but what about those other issues?
Sleep is a time meant for the body to power down, process the day, and recharge. Lack of sleep puts increased stress on the heart and brain as well as the muscles and joints. Impaired sleep is correlated with many health issues and is why providing the body with enough time to rest each night is so important.
For those struggling to rest and recharge, here are a few suggestions:
- Plan to sleep at the same time every day
- Make the bedroom cool and dark
- Remove electronics from the bedroom and limit screen time immediately before bed
- Limit caffeine and alcohol
- If not sleeping, it may be wise to get up and go to another room to begin to “re-program” your body to sleep while in bed
Taken together these suggestions can help people to sleep quality.
Sleep is important for your body and your health, thus it is wise to provide your body with what it needs for optimal function.