How Many Hours Of Sleep Do You Get In a Day.?

Pix. courtesy of Healthcentric.com

We live in a society these days when it is almost impossible to rest, and there are so many reasons why. From worries about work or lack of it, to family, money, bills, etc. I was chatting with a friend on BB - Blackberry messanger today at 9:30pm Eastern Standard Time and this person is in Nigeria at what should be around 3:30am local time. He said that he was unable to sleep mainly because of lack of eletricity (in 2013, Nigeria is yet to get it right), working so much for so little and many more.

I decided to take it one step further - why is it impossible to go to sleep even with power on, working normal hours, when we have “everything” we ever wanted?. although, there are no magic number as far as how many hour of rest your body need to functions well.

National Sleep Foundation of America stated that "Not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but sleep needs are also individual. Just like any other characteristics you are born with, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. While you may be at your absolute best sleeping seven hours a night, someone else may clearly need nine hours to have a happy, productive life. In fact, a 2005 study confirmed the fact that sleep needs vary across populations, and the study calls for further research to identify traits within genes that may provide a "map" to explain how sleep needs differ among individuals."

My worry is that when you don’t get as much sleep as your body needs, there is bound to be some health related issue. National Sleep Foundation listed the following:

• Serious health consequences that can jeopardize your safety and the safety of individuals around you.
•  Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.
• Increase in body mass index – a greater likelihood of obesity due to an Increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation
• Increased risk of diabetes and heart problems.
• Increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse.
• Decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals or remember new information.

One thing I don't like to do is to end my message without some form of solution and for better health and over safety of everyone around you. National Sleep Foundation recommended the following and I also agreed to these few steps:

• Establish consistent sleep and wake schedules, even on weekends
• Create a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to soothing music – begin an hour or more before the time you expect to fall asleep
•   Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool
•  Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows
•  Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex (keep "sleep stealers" out of   the bedroom – avoid watching TV, using a computer or reading in bed)
•   Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime
•   Exercise regularly.
•  Avoid caffeine and alcohol products close to bedtime and give up smoking

Hope these help...let me know

Source: National Sleep Foundation. http://sleepfoundation.org (2013)