How much sleep do I need? Why you can forget the eight‑hour sleep rule
For decades, the answer to "how much sleep does an adult need?" has been simple: eight hours. The idea dates back to the mid-19th century, when the notion of eight hours of work, eight for recreation and eight for sleep first took hold.
Decades of advice has suggested adults need eight hours of sleep each night. However, recent research questions if this common recommendation fits everyone. Studies of hunter-gatherer communities, who have a closer lifestyle to our ancestors and limited exposure to light, suggest people typically sleep between 5.7 and 7.1 hours per night.
These patterns remained consistent even without modern distractions like traffic noise and artificial light. On average, preindustrial societies sleep approximately 6.4 hours based on various factors. While eight hours may not be ideal for everyone, consistently getting less or more sleep has been linked to health issues such as heart disease and cognitive decline.
The optimal sleep duration appears to be between 6.4 and 7.8 hours, but this varies depending on factors like sex and organ health. While individual sleep needs differ, the National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours for adults aged 26 to 64, acknowledging that some may require less or more. Irregular sleep patterns, often caused by artificial light and irregular schedules, can also negatively impact health.
Thus, while the ideal sleep duration varies, getting enough sleep and maintaining regular sleep habits remains crucial for overall health.
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