We spend over one third of our lives sleeping. This is a fact and furthermore necessary for our bodies to be able to renew and relax. During sleep our brains also reorganizes themselves. It goes through the important events of the past day, erases all the unnecessary things and saves the important ones.
The amount of sleep an individual requires varies, not only by person but also by age. Some of us simply need plenty of sleep whereas others can manage with less. A small baby needs approximately 16 hours of sleep in a day when a few years older child can settle for 12 hours. An adult sleeps 8 hours a day in general. As a person gets older, it is not rare to spend only 5-7 hours a night for sleeping.
The diminishing of the hours spent sleeping daily through aging has no connection with sleeping disorders. It is very normal and has also no harmful effects on either health or the ability to function in normal life. Lessened need for sleep should therefore not be classified instantly as a symptom of some illness. It is often not the quantity of sleep we should focus on, but the quality of it.
The effects of sleeping poorly
The lack of sleep can surely make a person sick. This has been shown in various sleep deprivation research cases. If a person is not allowed to fall a sleep at all, he/she will suffer from sense deprivation and illusions after about 60 hours. This alone represents clearly how important regular and adequate sleep is for both our brain and the body.
The consequences of complete lack of sleep are naturally dramatic and a person suffering from long-term sleep deprivation will suffer from similar symptoms.
Grumpiness, anxiety and lowered capability to function are the first signs of the body and brain not getting enough of sleep and feeling overworked.
We all sleep poorly every now and then. Most of the time we even know the reason for this: worries, stress or even a nice night out that has left our body "working overtime". In some cases such symptoms that occur as pain prevent restful and much needed sleep. During e.g. menopause, most women suffer from sleeping disorders alongside other problems.
As we can see, the reasons for poor sleeping can be the result of various things. Nevertheless, this does not mean that there is no common solution and help.