Too much sleep….or too little sleep

According to a new Kaiser Permanente study, people with the lowest stress levels and who also got more than six hours, but not more than eight hours, of sleep were most likely to lose at least 10 pounds.

The National Sleep Foundation says there is no “magic number” and each person has a unique “basal sleep need.”:

The first thing experts will tell you about sleep is that there is no “magic number.”  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.

Too much sleep….or too little sleep?

…one thing sleep research certainly has shown is that sleeping too little can not only inhibit your productivity and ability to remember and consolidate information, but lack of sleep can also lead to serious health consequences and jeopardize your safety and the safety of individuals around you.
On the other hand, some research has found that long sleep durations (nine hours or more) are also associated with increased morbidity (illness, accidents) and mortality (death).

Sleep needs vary across ages and are especially impacted by lifestyle and health.  Thus, to determine how much sleep you need, it's important to assess not only where you fall on the "sleep needs spectrum," but also to examine what lifestyle factors are affecting the quality and quantity of your sleep such as work schedules and stress.  To get the sleep you need, you must look at the big picture.

 

Tips to a new path towards healthier sleep and a healthier lifestyle:
1.   Assessing your own individual needs and habits
      a.  Your respond to different amounts of sleep
      b.  Pay careful attention to your mood, energy and health after a poor night's sleep versus a good one
 2.  Make sleep a priority
      a.  Don’t make it the thing you do only after everything else is done
      b.  Stop doing other things so you get  the  sleep you need

Tips to pave the way for better sleep:
1. Establish consistent sleep and wake schedules, even on weekends
2. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool
3. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows
4. Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime
5. Exercise regularly during the day or at least a few hours before bedtime
 
REFERENCES:

1.  http://www.topnews.in/healthcare/content/222106-8-hrs-sleep-less-stress-best-natural-way-cut-flab

2.  http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need