Is 6 hours of sleep enough

Today’s fast-paced world allows most people to get fewer than 8 hours of sleep a day. Hectic schedules make us realize that there are simply not enough hours in a day to do all that we want and get eight hours of peaceful sleep on top of that.

Therefore, sleep is often compromised to prioritize other things in our lives. Although some people resort to short mid-day naps to recharge between tasks, they seldom work as well as a good night’s sleep is supposed to do. These sleep hours get further reduced for people with sleep apnea, especially those suffering from sleep apnea and undergoing treatment from a sleep apnea specialist.

Some people may believe that they get a good night’s sleep when in reality, they spend less than seven hours in bed. It is common to argue that the number of hours in bed does not matter; the quality of sleep does. Some people can function well with just six hours of sleep, whereas others cannot work with even more than seven. Consequently, a lot of people wonder, “is 6 hours of sleep enough?”

The answer to this question is “not really.” Unfortunately, most people who get about six hours of sleep a day will realize the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on their bodies. Sleep deprivation does not necessarily mean snoring at your desk or in school.

It can translate to minor symptoms such as grogginess, daytime sleepiness, drowsiness, low energy levels, mood swings, and weight gain, to name a few. Drowsiness is one of the biggest hints your body throws at you to make you realize that six hours of sleep is simply not working.

You can also determine if you are getting enough sleep by undertaking a sleep apnea test, undergoing an at-home sleep study, or taking an online sleep apnea test and getting a consultation from a sleep apnea specialist.

People who get fewer than six hours of sleep due to sleep apnea can also consider getting Inspire sleep apnea treatment, an innovative and effective surgical procedure that opens the airways.

Related: Warning Signs Of Sleep Apnea

Recommended Sleep Duration Schedules For All Ages

The problem with people who function okay with six hours of sleep every day is that their body already believes that this is normal. What they don’t realize is that sleep deprivation shows its side effects one way or the other. Some other common symptoms of sleep deprivation may include the following:

• Nodding off the minute your head touches your pillow.
• More intense than usual morning sleep inertia.
• The overwhelming urge to nap throughout the day.
• Appropriate sleep time for different ages.

The National Sleep Foundation, a renowned name in sleep studies, has concluded a new, better-researched sleep duration schedule. This schedule entails the necessary sleep duration for different ages and can help you categorize your sleep schedule as appropriate, recommended, or not recommended.

This updated chart aims at allowing people to develop a sleep schedule within the healthy range for their age to retain their health. It can also be used for sleep apnea studies at home, diagnosing potential sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea, and during a sleep study.
Let’s take a look at a few recommended sleep durations from the National Sleep Foundation:

Newborns

Newborns should sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day, with the appropriate range spanning between 11 to 13 hours. They shouldn’t be sleeping less than 11 hours per day.

Infants

The National Sleep Foundation recommends sleep for infants to be about 14 to 17 hours a day, with the appropriate range between 11 to 13 hours. Sleeping less than 11 hours a day is not recommended.

Toddlers

Toddlers should sleep for about 11 to 14 hours a day. The recommended range is 9 to 10 hours, and less than 9 hours of sleep is not recommended.
Related: Consult with Sleep Specialist Jacksonville Florida

Pre-schoolers

Pre-schoolers are recommended to get about 10 to 13 hours of sleep daily. 8 to 9 hours is deemed appropriate as well, but less than 8 hours is not advised.

School-Aged Children

School-going children should get about 9 to 11 hours of sleep every day. Although 7 to 8 hours also work, they shouldn’t sleep less than 7 hours.