How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

StrangerHereMyself — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:36:42 GMT

I am guessing that the more sedentary lifestyle most Americans lead is a cause of the drop in necessary amounts of sleep. I'm sure 8 hours was appropriate when we were working hard in the fields or factories or otherwise on our feet most of the day.

I have an office job (I hate it, I am constantly antsy and wanting to move), and even with the regular light exercise I do, I still only need about 6 hours of sleep per night to be at my best.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Yung Red612 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:12:06 GMT

I cant beieve they think that 8 hrs is too much. I always need 9-10 hrs to at least feel ok if i get less i feel like crap. good thing i work the aft shift b-cuz i am not a morning person. I am in good health the right weight eat a healthy diet (except for oocasional sweets or soda) am only 32 excersise a lot(dont own a car, my wife's parents drive up around a lot when needed esp the kids) aviod caffiene( im the only 1 at my job that dont drink coffee every body thinks im wierd cuz of that) and try not to get stress get to me.

So they say I got a higher chance of dying early or getting parkinsons cuz i get "too much sleep" what do i gotta be extra-tired so I can live longer? Just baffles me

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

skip smyth — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:36:50 GMT

Hit a real chord, or should I say nerve, on this one. Suffer severe tinnitus. More noises than a politican has promises and they are LOUD, just like the politicians. Well over 40 years now. Most self-destruct, so you will rarely see their posts. Sleep and generally feeling better I leave to beer. Have seven, or eight, significant others to prove it. Have tried sleeping pills. They are a poor performance item and, I understand, far more disasterous to one's health. Doc says no cure. Live with it. That 'live' is the tricky part.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

wayne_bramble — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:08:27 GMT

A young adult female, vegan, experiencing poor sleep, dreams a great deal wakes up tired and exhausted. Could this be linked to depression or perhaps lackingf nutrients as a result of diet. Any thoughts/suggestions? Why the vivid dreams? Inability to reach a deeper stage of sleep? No problems getting to sleep however. Of a somewhat anxious disposition. Doctor previously prescribed low dose antidepressants that have so far been given a wide berth.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

LivingDandelion — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:58:54 GMT

I am concerned about the amount of "Energy" drinks being consumed by students nowdays, to help them to stay up all night to do school work. I know alot of students are doing this now, but that can't be good for ones health for so may reasons.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

ClareMary — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:34:18 GMT

This is such b.s. It's totally contrary to accurate common sense advice. The body regenerates cells and organs throughout the sleep cycle. The liver, in particular, needs as much sleep as possible. When possible, I sleep in until I naturally wake up and feel refreshed. My appetite is regulated, my skin tone is improved, I've lost necessary weight, and my mood is great when I've had enough sleep, which in my case, at age 53, is 9-10 hours per night. I normally get around 9, which is ideal. When I'm stressed or coming down w/something, my body requires more sleep which is a necessary nutrient, like water and sunlight. When people do not get adequate sleep, and it's specific to each person what they actually need, then they gain weight and INCREASE their risk of heart attacks, diabetes, Parkinson's, etc., totally contrary to the erroneous advice above. Sounds like a pharmaceutical ploy to me and I can't believe Dr. Mercola is printing this bogus info.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Debrah — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:42:24 GMT

When I get enough physical activity--especially outdoors--that I am physically tired I sleep so much better that I need less hours of it. If I spend too much time on the computer(like right now!) I need more sleep. I think lack of activity is probably a big part of sleep problems for many modern people.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Keith Lurie — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:56:30 GMT

I just read the article on 33 secrets to a good nights sleep---- I break almost all the rules, and have never had a sleep problem. I stay up, working until I literally fall asleep at the computer, then stagger off to bed. - no ritual (switching off lights, locking up, changing into pajamas or reading.) when realy tired, these things just wake you up and give you a second wind.

Don't try to sleep untill you are really tired! Who cares how long you sleep, if you dont get enough one night, you will fall asleep earlier the next night.

Sleep problems and stress are often related, and stress will also lead to all manner of dis-ease

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

LLL — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:54:57 GMT

There seems to be research that shows this, a study that shows that. It's hard to know what to believe, especially when they contradict each other from time to time.. or year to year.

I do find myself MUCH more rested during the day now that I'm on my own schedule (I work based from home) and I allow myself to wake up with the sun... or whenever I naturally wake up. It only works if I go to bed early enough though <G>. I almost never use an alarm unless there is something I really have to be up for in the morning.

For some reason, though, there are some nights that I am just wired and I can't sleep most of the night, and I really don't know why that is. It only happens at the start of the time I get into bed. Sometimes, after laying there for an hour or more without being able to fall asleep, I just get up and do other things until I feel tired, which on some nights, is not for many hours or until 3-5 am. I then go to sleep OK, or I end up so tired the following afternoon that I need a nap. I wish I could figure out why that happens (and no, I don't drink coffee or other caffeine drinks).

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

curious7 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:26:52 GMT

I believe sleep time, as in the number of hours, is as unique to each of us as is our own individuality. At the same time I would see if what my activity level is has an effect that is genuine, or am I pushing things a bit. I have read that some of us sleep too much, and others not enough, and that this changes with age.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

cxg174 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:58:53 GMT

I think you have to go by how you feel. I sleep as close to 8 hours as I can with my busy life and I can function, but as the workweek goes by I am increasingly fatigued and rely on caffiene to keep me going. By the weekend I am wiped out, but then if I get to sleep extra (9-10 hrs. Fri. night) I recover again. If get 7 hours or less, my brain is fried, I can't think and I feel like I have no brain cells at all. I get irritable and lazy, eat too much and get sick with colds, etc. Since my son was born the only thing that I want out of life is adequate sleep. When I was young I thought sleep was a waste of time, now I appreciate it and I know how much better I feel when I do get it. The only thing I look forward to as I age is the time when my teenage son is grown, and I can relax and sleep!

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

echoooo — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:28:51 GMT

sorry Dr Mercola, you totally missed the boat on this one. One of the biggest reasons that people can sleep too much, and never recover from their sleep debt, is due to SLEEP APNEA. It is highly correlated with Diabetes, as well as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, memory problems, insomnia, pain, and depression. In time i am sure they will also find a correlate with death (due to untreated sleep apnea).

Anyone who snores heavily, doesn't wake up rested, naps frequently or sleeps a lot, and is tired all the time, should definitely see a doctor about getting an overnight sleep test (polysomnogram, or PSG). However, despite prevailing thinking, you do NOT have to snore to suffer from sleep apnea. Nor do you have to be overweight, male, or older. Sleep apnea can affect ANYONE, young or old, male or female, overweight or normal weight. Even though sleep apnea is linked to being overweight, some people can naturally have a narrower airway due to the structure of the mouth and throat. The PSG will show whether you stop breathing during your sleep, for how long, and how frequently.

Treatment is quite easy and effective with a nasal mask and a special machine that puts out pressurized air - the pressure keeps your throat and airway open, ensuring that you don't stop breathing at night.

The effects of untreated sleep apnea are well known, but the public is woefully underinformed about this disease. So educate yourselves and go to your doctor to ask for an overnight sleep study if you think you might have it. Most people only get diagnosed once it's too late (after a car crash, heart attack, stroke....), so don't be one of them! Treating sleep apnea early can dramatically increase your quality (and length) of life!!!

Here are two good sources to get started reading on it:

www.sleepapnea.org/.../index.html

en.wikipedia.org/.../Sleep_apnea

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

john811 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:11:27 GMT

Concerning statistics, be discerning. I bet that in truth, 100% of the subjects experience death, no matter how much they sleep. I once heard that 100% of the people who had eaten squash had died or were expected to die. I quit eating squash just in case.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

springolife — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:23:03 GMT

As a child I had heard that you optimal sleep number wold be clocked from the time you go to sleep at night to the first time you wake in the morning (assuming you weren't awakened artificially by a nightmare, allergies, or outside noise...

I KNOW that I don't get enough sleep because when I get up in the morning I feel like I can hardly function. I trip over things, can't think, and am grouchy (whereas normally I used to be considered a morning person although I can stay up quite late as well.) But my kids wake me up about 5:30 AM so I just can't get around it!

Also, there ARE factors that require more sleep, such as illnesses. They have proven that rest DOES help the body heal. If you are up doing stuff your body is expending all its energy and not given enough opportunity to heal. Not enough rest brings down the immune system, which can cause you to be ill or get sicker if you are already struggling with something.

Another factor is pregnancy- if I am left to sleep as long as makes me feel well, energized, and NO MORNING SICKNESS in the first trimester, I will sleep about 12 hours. Women do not realize that sleep deprivation exasperates morning sickness and since your body is working hard to create a new life, it needs the rest. Now that I am in my second trimester, I'd probably do very well with 8 1/2 to maybe 9 hours of sleep.

Remember that when the baby comes you are suddenly sleep deprived so in the last trimester you begin having many waking periods and difficulty sleeping, likely weaning your body off from that first and second trimester sleepy haze.

re: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Dries — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:02:45 GMT

I agree totally with the comments that the length of sleep could be a "symptom" of the disease instead of the cause. Why this is so is explained by Dr. Hamer. There are some articles on the German New Medicine on Mercola's website but apparently Dr Mercola has not fully understood them.