Are you one of those who have trouble sleeping during the summer months? If so, you are not alone. Many people in Sweden suffer from insomnia and sleep problems. In summer, when the sun almost never sets, it can be hard to get enough sleep.
But how many hours should you sleep to feel good? The answer is not simple. But one rule is to sleep until you feel rested. Sleep is important and good sleep can reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes and depression. Sleep also makes it easier to cope with the stresses of everyday life.
How much adults should sleep
As an adult, you normally need between six and nine hours of sleep a day. Sleep experts say that six hours is too little and that we need at least seven to eight hours every night to avoid compromising our health. However, the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person and it is the effective sleep that is most important – i.e. the deep sleep.
While we sleep, we alternate between deep sleep and REM sleep. During REM sleep we dream and this phase is not as vital as deep sleep. Deep sleep has a healing effect on our bodies. It is in this phase that the body has the opportunity to recover. It reduces stress hormones and relaxes the muscles. In this phase we are more difficult to awaken and if we are awakened in this phase we often feel disoriented.
For older people, however, the need for sleep seems to decrease slightly, with people over 60 typically sleeping only six hours a day.
How much children should sleep
How many hours should I sleep if I am under 18? Babies sleep about 20 hours a day. As the child grows and gets older, the need for sleep decreases.
Children aged 0-12 years normally sleep no less than ten hours a day. Children aged 12-18 sleep about nine hours every night. At puberty, however, the need for sleep may increase again and exceed nine hours again.
It is important to meet the sleep needs of children and young people. If you find that your 14 year old is sleeping away the days, it might be a good idea to find out why. It may not be laziness – but a changing body that requires a lot of sleep.
