When life gets hectic, it's easy to skimp on sleep. Getting enough sleep, however, is important to your health. Sleep has several stages. Some help us with memory and learning; others give us more energy the next day. Not getting enough sleep or experiencing interrupted night-time slumber can interfere with your health.
Benefits of Sleep
Sleep makes you feel more alert, energetic and better able to function, Harvard University Medical School explains. Sleep also has a major effect on learning. A person who gets less than the recommended amount of sleep can't focus fully, therefore can't learn new information. Recall is also affected --- lack of sleep make it more difficult to recall information. When you get an adequate night's sleep, your ability to function is more efficient.
Health Risks
Not getting the recommended amount of sleep boosts your risk for serious health concerns, such as breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Sleep deprivation also plays a large factor in motor-vehicle accidents. Approximately 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries are caused by falling asleep while driving, according to the ConsumerAffairs website. Getting too little sleep also increases your risk for obesity.
Sleep Recommendations
Healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infants need 12 to 18 hours of sleep daily. Toddlers aged 1 to 3 need 12 to 14 hours of sleep; children 3 to 5 need 11 to 13 hours of sleep and those 5 to 10 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep. As children grow, they require less sleep; once they reach age 10, they need only 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep daily.
Misconceptions
Some people think sleeping longer on the weekends evens out sleep deprivation during the week. However, getting an adequate amount of sleep each night is important to preventing sleep and lowering the health risks of sleep deprivation. Avoid skimping on sleep and playing catch-up later.
Considerations
Create a sleep routine to make getting the required amount of sleep easier. Set up a consistent bedtime and morning waking time to get your body into a routine. Adults should avoid taking naps, which interferes with night-time sleep, ConsumerAffairs warns; you should also avoid drinking coffee and exercising right before bedtime. If you experience anxiety or insomnia, consult your doctor. She may provide suggestions or medications to assist with getting your sleep back on track.
