Scientists agree to say that sleep has an influence on a person’s health and life quality. Many studies are performed each year in order to determine the number of hours of sleep a normal adult should have every night.
In June 2015, the medical journal SLEEP, a publication produced by the AASM, published some recommendations issued by experts on body/organism related studies.
Here’s what was published:
Adults should sleep 7 hours or more a night on a regular basis to promote good health.
Sleeping less than 7 hours per night on a regular basis is associated with various health issues. Here are a few indicated by the experts: weight gain, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, depression and an increased risk of sudden death. Also sleeping for less than 7 hours is associated with decreased immune system functioning, decreased pain threshold and reduced performance as it increases risk of error and accident.
Sleeping for 9 hours or more on a regular basis may be appropriate for young adults, sleep-deprived individuals and those recovering from a medical condition. For others, it is not possible to confirm if sleeping over 9 hours is harmful to health.
People who feel that their hours of sleep are inadequate (too much or not enough hours) should consult a health professional.