Sleep deprivation is felt quite often in adults. If you feel that you’re not getting enough sleep, there might be a few sleep disorder remedies you can try to alleviate your tiredness. It’s important to first understand the reason why you’re sleepy, and calculate if you’re getting the right amount of sleep per night.
A variety of factors determine the necessary amount of sleep you need as an adult, including gender, health, sleeping habits, and even age. The amount of sleep you should be getting each night can vary, so take a look at the recommended amount of sleep necessary for adults, and the factors that could influence a change.
Recommended
The recommended amount of sleep necessary for adults is between 7-9 hours for both young adults, as well as old. I’m sure you have heard about getting your “eight hours” of sleep, which is about right if you’re an adult who is 18 years or older. But, if you’re getting your eight hours and still feel tired, or if you’re finding it hard to sleep the recommended time, there may be other factors affecting your sleeping schedule.
Age
Even though eight hours of sleep is recommended for adults 18 years and over, you might notice that the elderly often sleep more often. This does not necessarily mean they need more sleep, but that their age affects their sleeping pattern. Older individuals often sleep more frequently and at shorter intervals, compared to younger adults. Younger adults actually need more hours of sleep, and tend to sleep at deeper levels for longer periods of time.
Gender
There is also a difference in the recommended sleeping hours for adults, based on gender. Adult women who are pregnant, or going through menopause, will need more sleep; they can often develop sleep disorders or disturbances that make it harder to fall asleep. For example: pregnant women suffer from back aches and pains, which makes it difficult to get comfortable and fall asleep. Adult men, on the other hand, are more likely to develop sleeping disorders as they grow older. Issues such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and other sleeping disorders become more problematic as their age increases.
Sleep Disorders Or Deprivations
Losing sleep can turn into an endless cycle, causing more sleep disorder issues down the road. If you lose hours of sleep one night, then the next day you are going to feel tired and the amount of sleep you will need increases. But if you’re never “catching up” on sleep, then you’ll just contribute to your deprivation. Thus, your hours will continue to increase, and you’ll never feel fully refreshed. Sleep disorders are harmful to your health, and can cause stress, anxiety, and forgetfulness. A lesser known symptom of sleep disorders, is that they can break down your immune system, making you susceptible to colds.
Sleepwalking in College
Sleepwalking is a medical condition formerly known as somnambulism. People with somnambulism will walk around or perform tasks while they are asleep. In pop culture, sleepwalkers are either the butt of a joke or possessed by something supernatural. The truth is far less sensational: Sleepwalking is a relatively common phenomenon, and there’s nothing spooky about it.
There’s nothing funny about falling off of the top bunk bed or waking up in the commons – in whatever you went to bed wearing. AHHH! Check out this guide on sleepwalking to help.
Quality
The quality of your sleep is just as important as the recommended time. If you’re getting eight hours of sleep, but it involves a light sleep with tossing and turning, then your body is not receiving the full amount it needs.
There are two main categories of sleep: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM. Non-REM sleep has three different stages, with stage three being the most deep and valuable. Teenagers usually sleep in stage three. By the time they reach adulthood it moves to only stage two, thus lessening deep sleep to a lighter one. Light sleeping reduces the quality of rest adults get. This is due to a variety of nighttime interruptions and distractions, such as frequent trips to the bathroom, keeping lights on, and even TV noises. To improve your quality of sleep, try maintaining a structured sleep schedule, with a quiet and dark atmosphere, and comfortable temperature.
Personal Preference
Some adults may claim they feel great with only 4-6 hours of sleep, but may not be aware how their performance is affected. Even if you don’t feel sleep deprived, as an adult your body is most likely to show poor performance measures if you didn’t get your 7-9 hours of necessary sleep. Not following the recommended hours of sleep for adults could lead to sleep disorders, and reduce your ability to function during the day. You might not need that cup of coffee if you manage to obtain the adequate amount of sleep as an adult each night!
Author Bio:
Carl Turner is a medical researcher and a freelance health writer from Los Angeles, California. He has worked in clinics studying sleep cycles and has worked with patients suffering from sleep disorders to find a long-term remedy. During his free time, he enjoys gardening and spending time with his dog.
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July 31, 2018
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How Much Sleep Is Necessary For Young Adults?
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