Sleepy Time- Are You Getting Enough
Millions of people around the world are familiar with the repercussions of not enough sleep. If you aren’t getting an adequate amount, you may feel fatigued, have bags under your eyes, and you may even feel irritable as well. What many people don’t realize, is that too little sleep can have even bigger consequences, such as impaired decision making and a suppressed immune system. The bottom line is that chronic sleep deprivation can actually shorten your lifespan in the long run.
So here comes the most important questions: how much sleep do you need? Well, it depends on your age and biological needs:
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep is a “neurobiological need.” Think of it like recharging a battery, except the battery is your brain! The optimum amount of sleep needed changes with age. Infants need nine to ten hours at night AND three or more hours of naps, while toddlers need the same nine hours at night but two to three hours/less daytime naps. School age children do best with nine to eleven hours and adults with seven to eight hours. When sleep-deprived (>1-2 hrs of less than normal sleep), daytime napping needs increase as well as the need for longer nighttime sleep. Without establishing a sleep cycle or when interrupting the normal circadian rhythm (cycle of sleep and wakefulness), long- term problems can arise. This can occur as a result of missing as little as one to two hours a night. Though many claim and even brag about only needing a few hours of sleep a night, it is reported that they are less able to perform well on complex mental tasks compared with those who get closer to seven hours of nighttime sleep. It has also been reported that a higher mortality rate is associated with getting less OR much more than seven hours of sleep per night.
Source: http://www.chiro-trust.org/
Of course, depending on your age and path in life, you may require a different amount of sleep than someone else. However, it’s when we cannot reach those requirements that problems occur. Unfortunately, there are tons of people in the world who suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea. Often, these sleeping disorders can caused my unwanted stress and tension, lifestyle and diet.
If you are suffering with a sleep disorder or just simply haven’t been able to get the correct amount, call your doctor of chiropractic today. Periodic adjustments and lifestyle changes suggested by your doctor of chiropractic can help get you in tip top shape. If you need more zzzz’s in your life, call your chiropractor today. You’ll be glad you did!
