Facts You Should Know About Sleep

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Do you easily fall asleep at inappropriate times (e.g., on the bus, at your desk, in the movies, just before dinner)? Yes No Do you often feel fatigued or depressed? Yes No Do you lack the energy for activities that you once enjoyed? Yes No Do you routinely take more than half an hour to fall asleep? Yes No Do you snore or kick a lot while sleeping? Yes No Do you wake frequently during the night? Yes No If you answered YES to one or more of these questions above, click here. If you still do not get the sleep you need, make an appointment to discuss your sleep problem with your doctor.

Why Do I Need Sleep?

Sleep was long considered just a uniform block of time when you are not awake. Thanks to sleep studies done over the past several decades, it is now known that sleep has distinctive stages that cycle throughout the night. Your brain stays active throughout sleep, but different things happen during each stage. For instance, certain stages of sleep are needed for us to feel well rested and energetic the next day, and other stages help us learn or make memories.

Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle. Most adults need 7–8 hours of sleep each night. Newborns, on the other hand, sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day, and children in preschool sleep between 10 and 12 hours a day. School-aged children and teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.

Not only does the quantity of your sleep matter, but the quality of your sleep is important as well. People whose sleep is interrupted a lot or is cut short might not get enough of certain stages of sleep.

In other words, how well rested you are and how well you function the next day depend on your total sleep time and how much of the various stages of sleep you get each night.

When Should I Seek Medical Help?

Sleeplessness can be a temporary problem, remedied by one or more lifestyle changes. However, when lack of sleep begins to cause safety or health problems in your daily life, seeking medical advice is wise. Most sleep disorders can be treated and cured.

For More Information:

Read 14 Tips to Getting a Good Night's Sleep.

Visit NHLBI's Your Guide to Healthy Sleep.

Consult your health care provider.

Facts to Know About Sleep Apnea Anyone can have sleep apnea. It is estimated that at least 12–18 million American adults have sleep apnea, making it as common as asthma. More than 4% of middle-aged men, 2% of middle-aged women, 3% of children and 10% of people over age 65 have sleep apnea. More than one-half of the people who have sleep apnea are overweight. More than one-half of all people who have sleep apnea are not diagnosed. People who have sleep apnea generally are not aware that their breathing stops in the night. They just notice that they don't feel well rested when they wake up and are sleepy throughout the day. Untreated sleep apnea can: Increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure Make irregular heartbeats more likely Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people. If you or someone you know has possible signs of sleep apnea, consult a doctor.