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Here’s How Much Sleep You Need According To Your Age

Sleep is very important for our general wellbeing and we will not function well without it. However there is a recommended amount if sleep that the human body requires and this depends on your age.

So Just How Long Should You Sleep

The recommended number of hours of sleep for an adult is 8 hours every night.

However, children under the age of 18 years of age are expected to sleep for much longer and for the elderly it is recommended that they sleep less.

What Is Your Recommended Sleeping Hours?

A chart has been designed by the National Sleep Foundation, this chart shows how much sleep is needed based on our age.

The chart was designed by a network of scientists from various fields including gerontology, physiology, pediatrics, sleep and anatomy, gynecology and neurology.

Symptoms Of Bad Sleeping Habits

  • Persistent Back Pain

Excessive sleep could be a cause of your persistent back pain. This is because your back muscles will be weakened. You should exercise regularly to take care of this problem and if you have a day off rather than sleep-in try some low intensity exercises to help strengthen and buildup your back muscles.

  • Weight Issues

When you sleep for too long your metabolism slows down and you are more likely to store up energy rather than use it. In the process you will gain weight and if care is not taken you could even become obese.

  • Anxiety And Depression

Insomnia or oversleeping can be caused by anxiety or depression. It is believed that about 15% of sufferers of anxiety and depression are likely to oversleep and this can adverse effect a person’s mental state of health.

  • Persistent Headaches

Oversleeping can lead to a person having persistent headaches, this is caused by the damage to the neurotransmitters leading to poor sleep quality and headaches.

  • Type II Diabetes

When you do not sleep well enough or you sleep too much, your body may have difficulty processing glucose and this could lead to insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

  • Cardiovascular Condition

While the heart needs rest for it to function at optimal capacity, too much rest or too little can be detrimental to its activities. It has been proven through research by the Nurses’ Health Study involving about 72,000 subjects that people who sleep more are likely to have coronary heart disease compared to people who sleep an average of eight hours daily.

  • Fatality

This can be a culmination of several health risks caused by oversleeping like obesity, diabetes and coronary heart disease. These conditions can be fatal so oversleeping is dangerous in this respect.

Ways Of Curbing Oversleeping

  • You can have a strict sleep schedule and adhere to it religiously.
  • Put off all electronic devices at least an hour before going to bed.
  • You can engage in meditation and yoga exercises, it will help you to relax before bedtime.
  • You can take a cold shower to help you combat sleep.
  • Regular exercises can help prepare you physically and mentally for the days challenges.
  • Drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated and fresh throughout the day, it will keep your mind active and alert.
  • Engage in an activity that will keep you active and alert throughout the duration of the endeavour.
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