For decades people have been told that 8 hours of sleep a night is the perfect amount, but how true is that statement? The amount of sleep someone truly needs changes based on a multitude of factors, such as age and health.  An article by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests that adults should sleep “between 7 and 9 hours per night”. It also suggests that sleeping more than 9 hours per night can be helpful to those who are sick or recovering from sleep deprivation.

Those who need the most sleep are children under 12 years old, specifically children under 5 years old, who need anywhere from 10 to 16 hours of sleep per day. Teens from the ages of 13 to 18 years old need 8-10 hours of sleep per night. An article by Eric Olson from Mayo Clinic points out that the quality of your sleep is just as important as the amount of sleep you get. If you frequently wake up throughout the night, you may need even more than the recommended 8 hours. Another interesting fact proposed by the Mayo Clinic is that for pregnant women, the “Changes in hormone levels and physical discomfort can result in poor sleep quality.”

Sleep deficiency can cause a multitude of problems. Sleep is a basic human necessity, just as food and water are. Getting an insufficient amount of sleep can lead to a greater risk of heart disease, obesity, kidney disease, and strokes. Lack of sleep can also interfere with your ability to focus and react, impacting activities like driving, social functioning, and school.

Getting sufficient sleep is just as important as eating food and drinking water, and people should treat it as such.