Sleep: Do you really need eight hours of shuteye?
Every so often we hear of high-ranking politicians or CEOs claiming to get by on very little sleep — some as little as three hours a night. If they're not natural short sleepers, chances are they're heading for trouble.
Sleep is a vital part of our health, yet many of us struggle to get enough of it. Dr. Catia Reis, a sleep researcher at the University of Lisbon, says that even when we feel fine, sleep deprivation can lead to poor judgment and oversleeping at the weekend. She has studied the effects of sleep deprivation on various conditions, including jet lag and sleep apnea.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ying-Hui Fu from the University of California San Francisco has found that sleep plays a crucial role in the body's restorative functions, removing toxins and generating new energy. She highlights that a lack of sleep can lead to numerous health problems, including heart and brain disease. While most people need around 7.5-8.5 hours of sleep per night, some individuals, known as natural short sleepers, can function well on fewer than six hours.
These individuals have specific genetic variations that allow them to thrive without the need for typical sleep durations. However, there is still much to learn about this phenomenon, and further research is needed to fully understand the implications for human health.
Written by urgent.news from Deutsche Welle Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
