How Much Sleep Do You Need Each Night?

Introduction to Sleep Needs and Importance

Sleep is vital for good mental health and physical health throughout life. It influences your immune system, circulatory system, respiratory system, and metabolism. Good sleep health also plays a key role in growth and development during childhood.

Not getting a full night’s sleep can affect how you think, react, focus, learn, and interact with others. Too little sleep can also increase your risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and depression.

But how many hours of sleep do you need each night?

The joint consensus statement by the Sleep Research Society, National Sleep Foundation, and American Academy of Sleep Medicine is that most healthy adults should sleep no less than seven hours each night.

But the recommended amount of sleep needed by a person can vary depending on several factors, including age group. Also, it’s important to remember that both the quantity and quality of your sleep matter.

Factors Influencing Sleep Requirements

Age

Age is one of the main factors that influences how many hours of sleep you need in 24 hours. The general guidelines for people of different age groups are as follows:

Infants up to 12 months of age: 12-16 hours, including naps
Toddlers 1-2 years of age: 11-14 hours, including naps
Toddlers 3-5 years of age: 10-13 hours, including naps
Children 6-12 years of age: 9-12 hours a night
Children 13-18 years of age: 8-10 hours a night
Adults: 7 or more hours a night

Older adults need the same amount of sleep as younger healthy adults (at least seven hours every day). However, there can be changes in sleep patterns as people get older. These alterations in sleep habits occur due to changes in the hypothalamus area of the brain. This is the body’s internal clock and controls the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle). Older adults may have trouble falling asleep, sleep more lightly, and wake up multiple times during the night.

Gender

Healthy adults, both men and women, should get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. However, there may be slight differences in the amount of sleep needed by men versus women. Research has shown that women tend to sleep longer than men by 11-13 minutes. Studies have also found that women:

Have a longer sleep latency (time taken to fall asleep).
Are significantly more likely to have interrupted sleep.
Are more likely to nap.
Are more prone to certain sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome.

Lifestyle and Activity Levels

Research has shown that various lifestyle factors can affect whether you need more or less sleep. For example:

Poor nutrition and food insecurity are associated with shorter sleep duration, longer sleep latency (time taken to fall asleep), and more sleep complaints.
Increased exposure to media (TV, social media) is tied to poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration in children, adolescents, and adults.
Reading a printed book results in increased sleepiness at bedtime compared to reading on a tablet. This is due to the effects of blue light on sleep, alertness, and circadian rhythms.
Increased activity levels during the day improve sleep quality and protect against insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Pet ownership is linked to increased sleep duration and shorter sleep latency.

Health Conditions

Certain health conditions can interfere with normal, healthy sleep patterns and cause trouble sleeping.

Pregnant women frequently develop sleep problems (decreased sleep duration and poor sleep quality) due to fatigue, nighttime heartburn, frequent urination at night, restless legs, and sleep apnea.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder are at a higher risk of having sleep problems.
Medical conditions, including mental health conditions like depression or schizophrenia, head injuries, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, can affect normal sleep.
Certain medications can affect sleep needs by causing insomnia or excessive sleepiness.

Decoding Sleep: Types and Stages

Overview of REM and Non-REM sleep

The basic structural organization of normal sleep is called sleep architecture. It includes two types of sleep: non-rapid eye-movement, NREM or non-REM sleep (stages 1 through 3) and rapid eye-movement or REM sleep. These types of sleep are different in terms of eye movements, brain wave patterns, and muscle tone.

Understanding Sleep Cycles and Their Importance

During a period of sleep, you will alternate through cycles of NREM and REM. Irregular cycling and/or the absence of certain sleep stages is linked to sleep disorders. For example, people with narcolepsy (a sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness) enter directly into REM sleep instead of first entering NREM sleep.

The stages of a normal sleep episode include:

Stage 1: A brief period of light NREM
Stage 2 and 3: Progress from deeper to deepest NREM
Stage 4: REM sleep
Cycling between stages 1-3 of NREM and REM (stage 4) throughout the night.

The average length of a sleep cycle is typically 70-100 minutes for the first cycle and 90-120 minutes for subsequent cycles. Overall, 75-80% of the time is spent in NREM and 20-25% of the time in REM. Stage 2 of NREM becomes longer, and stage 3 may disappear as the night progresses. REM increases as the night progresses and is the longest during the last one-third of a sleep episode.

Significance of Deep Sleep

Deep sleep or slow-wave sleep occurs during stage 3 of NREM sleep. It is critical for cell regeneration, growth, and memory. This sleep stage mostly occurs during the first one-third of the night and disappears as the night progresses. The arousal threshold (the intensity of stimuli needed to awaken a person from sleep) is highest in stage 3 NREM.

How to Determine If You're Getting Enough Sleep

Signs of Adequate Sleep

Here are some signs you are getting enough sleep:

You fall asleep within 30 minutes of getting into bed.
You are awake for less than 20 minutes during the night.
You wake up no more than once per night.
You are asleep for 85% of the time you spend in bed.
You find it easy to wake up on time in the morning.
You feel well-rested and refreshed throughout the day.

Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation and Poor Sleep Quality

Here are some signs and symptoms that you aren’t getting enough good quality sleep:

You need to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock a few times before you can get out of bed in the morning.
You feel sleepy or drowsy throughout the day, including while driving.
You rely on caffeine to get through the day.
Your eyes are puffy, red, swollen, and/or have dark circles or bags.
You find it hard to focus and concentrate on tasks and are forgetful.
You are irritable, cranky, and frustrated.
You fall sick often.

Common Questions About Sleep Needs

Is 6 hours of sleep enough for adults?

No, 6 hours of sleep is not enough for adults. Healthy adults need at least seven hours of sleep in 24 hours.

Can naps compensate for sleep debt?

Daytime naps do not compensate for sleep debt. However, if you are sleep deprived, taking a brief (10-20 minute) nap can help you feel more refreshed and increase memory and focus for a few hours.

Is sleeping in on the weekends a good way to catch up on sleep?

Unfortunately, no. Sleeping in on the weekends may ease symptoms like tiredness and daytime drowsiness, but it may not compensate for sleep debt or help to regularize sleep patterns.

Is 9 to 3 or 10 to 3 sleep enough?

Sleeping from 9 or 10 pm to 3 am (5-6 hours of sleep) is not enough. The recommended hours of sleep for adults are no less than seven hours in every 24 hours.

How many hours of REM sleep do you need each night?

Adults need approximately two hours of REM sleep every night. This stage of the sleep cycle is important for brain development, memory consolidation, emotional processing, and dreaming.

Is 3 hours of deep sleep enough?

Yes, 3 hours of deep sleep and no less than seven hours of total sleep every night is enough. Adults need approximately 1.5-2 hours of deep sleep every night. Deep sleep should constitute around 25% of the total sleep duration.

Tools and Methods for Tracking Sleep

Specialists in clinical sleep medicine can assess your sleep duration and quality with a sleep study. There are also various tools and devices available to track sleep at home. For example:

Wearable devices, such as an Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and Oura Ring. These devices have inbuilt sensors that gather sleep data.
Bedside devices with contactless sensors. These devices measure body movements and breathing patterns.
Mattress-based devices, such as OK Mat or Eight Sleep Pod Cover. They are placed under or over your mattress and have sleep-tracking technologies.
Sleep tracking apps on your smartphone. They are useful if you don’t want to purchase a separate gadget to track sleep.

Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule

It’s important to be consistent with a regular sleep schedule for good health. Sleep experts recommend that you go to bed at the same time every evening and have the same wake up time each morning, including the weekends.

Create a Bedtime Routine for Better Sleep

To ensure a good night’s sleep, make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature. Other ways to prepare for a restful sleep include:

Take a warm bath before you go to bed.
Listen to light music.
Read a good book.

Understand the Impact of Diet and Exercise on Sleep

Your eating habits and physical activity during the day can affect the hours of sleep per night that you get.

Avoid eating large meals before bedtime. However, it is okay to have a light snack at bedtime.

Get some exercise during the day. This can help you fall asleep more easily at night. However, avoid vigorous workouts in the evening hours.

Avoid Common Sleep Disruptors (Caffeine, Electronics, etc.)

Stop using electronic devices such as TVs, phones, tablets, and computers at least 2 hours before your bedtime. Avoid caffeine and alcohol for at least 3 hours before you go to bed.

Learn Techniques for Stress Management and Relaxation Before Bed

Stretching, doing deep breathing exercises, and/or practicing meditation can help you unwind and relax before bed. This can enhance sleep quality and help you have a good night’s sleep.

The Health Implications of Sleep Deprivation

Short-Term Effects on Mood and Cognitive Function

Short-term effects of sleep disruption include:

Daytime drowsiness
Fatigue
Increased stress, depression, and anxiety
Slowed thinking, forgetfulness, and problems with learning and decision-making
Poor school performance and behavior problems in children and teens
Overall reduced quality of life

Long-Term Health Risks (Heart Disease, Immune System, Mental Health)

Long-term health risks of poor sleep include:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol)
Cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke)
Type 2 diabetes
Weight gain and obesity
Worsening symptoms of certain health conditions, such as gastrointestinal disorders
Increased risk of certain cancers
Suicidal ideation, especially in adolescents

The Link Between Sleep Disorders and Poor Sleep Quality

There are several types of sleep disorders, of which insomnia (difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep) is the most common. Other sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and parasomnias such as sleepwalking.

Sleep disorders are associated with poor sleep quality. This can manifest in many ways, such as poor sleep quality, increased sleep latency (time taken to fall asleep), disturbed sleep with multiple awakenings throughout the night, and/or reduced amount of sleep.

Sleep disruptions can result in daytime sleepiness and impaired functioning. It is noteworthy that sleep disorders often co-occur with other medical conditions, including neurological disorders and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: Tailoring Your Sleep for Optimal Well-Being

Listen to Your Body

Your body will give you signals if it is sleep-deprived. Be aware of your own sleepiness and tiredness. If you don’t listen to your body and just keep going, at some point, you will develop health problems. It makes sense, therefore, to respect the signals your body is sending you and build in more rest and sleep into your busy schedule.

Take a Proactive Approach to Sleep Improvement

Do not wait until a lack of sleep causes health problems. Include some self-care and lifestyle strategies that encourage better sleep in your daily routine. Focus on your sleep environment, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, diet, and physical activity.

If lifestyle changes do not improve your sleep, make an appointment to see your doctor. You may have an underlying health condition that is affecting sleep and needs to be diagnosed and treated.