Do You Have Enough Sleep?
Each day, there is a period of time that you sleep.
During that time you are inactive and go through different levels of consciousness.
Normally, you spend about one-third of each 24-hour day in the rest state.
The process of sleep is still not much understood.
Scientists have a very limited knowledge about the biological function of sleep.
However, it is known that many vital processes go on in your body while you sleep.
For instance, at different stages of your sleep, the body temperature changes.
Also, Breathing and heart rhythm become slow and then return to normal.
Furthermore, blood flow to the brain increases.
Hormone level changes, too.
For example, growth hormone increases during the first two hours of sleep.
No wonder it has been suggested that sleep is the best rest.
Do you have enough rest (sleep)? How much sleep do you need? It really depends on your individual physical needs.
No magic number can apply to everyone.
Normally, most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Children need more sleep than adults.
For example, little babies need 16 to 18 hours very day for sleep and preschool children need 10 to 12 hours a day for sleep.
School-aged children and teenagers need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.
Remember they are still growing.
The elderly need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults; that is between 7 and 8 hours every night.
As people are getting older to senior ages, they tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than in previous decades, and they may need more naps during the day.
If you feel drowsy at the daytime, that is a sign that you might not have enough sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
In addition, if you usually fall asleep within 5 minutes when you are lying down, you are probably having too little sleep.
During that time you are inactive and go through different levels of consciousness.
Normally, you spend about one-third of each 24-hour day in the rest state.
The process of sleep is still not much understood.
Scientists have a very limited knowledge about the biological function of sleep.
However, it is known that many vital processes go on in your body while you sleep.
For instance, at different stages of your sleep, the body temperature changes.
Also, Breathing and heart rhythm become slow and then return to normal.
Furthermore, blood flow to the brain increases.
Hormone level changes, too.
For example, growth hormone increases during the first two hours of sleep.
No wonder it has been suggested that sleep is the best rest.
Do you have enough rest (sleep)? How much sleep do you need? It really depends on your individual physical needs.
No magic number can apply to everyone.
Normally, most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Children need more sleep than adults.
For example, little babies need 16 to 18 hours very day for sleep and preschool children need 10 to 12 hours a day for sleep.
School-aged children and teenagers need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.
Remember they are still growing.
The elderly need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults; that is between 7 and 8 hours every night.
As people are getting older to senior ages, they tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than in previous decades, and they may need more naps during the day.
If you feel drowsy at the daytime, that is a sign that you might not have enough sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
In addition, if you usually fall asleep within 5 minutes when you are lying down, you are probably having too little sleep.
