Some people seem to need more sleep than others. If you sleep too little and feel alert, that could show both a sign of a health problem and when you need much more sleep than eight hours. Much research is currently being done on sleep and how it affects our functioning, our alertness, and our mental health.
What is it that makes some need only a few hours of sleep? According to Melinda Beck, who writes for the Wall Street Journal, people who need fewer hours of sleep, or “who sleep little,” can get through the day with fewer hours of sleep, while maintaining energy and good spirits. They enjoy the extra time they have during the day to get things done. It is something natural for them and they enjoy the time they have to relax and take advantage of doing more things.
People who sleep little are only one to three percent of the population. They sleep less than six hours a night, but they get through the day with energy. Some researchers think this begins in childhood. There could be a gene involved in people who sleep little, as it is inherited. While there are no tests to measure this, people who sleep little often do not go to sleep centers for sleep tests, making this pattern difficult to study.
One third of Americans sleep very little and this leads to diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. It is not enough to want to sleep fewer hours. It has to come naturally. With more research, we could understand this phenomenon of people who sleep little and be able to regulate the amount of sleep we need.
While people who sleep little often find it a benefit not to sleep, others are tired even though they can no longer sleep. There is the other side of the range where people need much more than eight hours of sleep or have trouble staying asleep through the night.
It takes 10-15 minutes for a well-rested person to fall asleep. If you sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, you are probably sleep deprived. Ideally, everyone should get about eight hours of sleep a night. If you already have that amount and are still tired, it’s important to see your doctor to rule out conditions that begin with sleep, such as sleep apnea.
If you fall asleep but have trouble staying asleep, you may have depression or anxiety, or it could be a symptom of sleep apnea. People who drink alcohol may wake up during the night, even though they may have had a drink to relax and sleep better. Alcohol will not result in quality sleep.
Snoring is a major problem for many people who wake up during the night because it is a major sleep disorder. If you sleep with a snorer, you have poor quality sleep. This is because when sleeping next to a snorer, you wake up an average of 23 times a night. This can lead to weight gain and depression. This is when it is important to see a sleep specialist so that both people sleep better.
Sleeping more than eight hours can indicate that you have a sleep disorder and are not sleeping well, so you need more time in bed to feel rested. If this is the case, you most likely have sleep apnea, which is a serious condition. Sleep apnea is a disease that prevents adequate air from entering the body. It can cause heart problems, daytime sleepiness, and depression. It is important to see a sleep specialist to diagnose and treat this problem.
During these busy, high-paced, and often stressful times, there are many reasons why we could get the wrong amount of sleep for our bodies. It’s easy to say that’s what your body likes or needs. It could actually be a sign that you need to change your pattern, diet, or verify that you don’t have a sleep-related illness.