National Sleep Foundation has revised its recommendations for all ages
Children from four months to 17 years old need more sleep than was previously thought, the new report states
Lack of sleep has been found to increase a person’s risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, shortening life expectancy
We spend around a third of our lives asleep.
Not only is the weekend lie in the stuff of your weekday dreams, but sleep, along with food, water and oxygen, is essential for human survival.
And the amount of shut eye a person gets each night, provides a vital indicator of their overall health.
But it seems some of us aren’t getting enough time between the sheets.
A new study, by experts at the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in the US, has recommended children aged four months to 17 years old need more sleep than was previously advised.
A new study by experts at the National Sleep Foundation in the US has recommended how much sleep a person needs at each stage in life, ranging from 14 to 17 hours as a newborn to seven to eight hours as an older adult, aged over 65, pictured
Past studies have found a lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, shortening life expectancy.
In order to determine exactly how much sleep a person needs at each stage of their life, a team of 18 specialists from sleep, anatomy and physiology, as well as paediatrics, neurology, gerontology and gynaecology convened to form an expert panel.
The scientists at the NSF in the US worked for two years to produce the most up-to-date guidance.
And their findings revealed children from the age of four months to 17 years old need more sleep than was previously thought.
The report states: ‘Importantly, the panel emphasised that some individuals might sleep longer or shorter than the recommended times with no adverse effects.
‘However, individuals with sleep durations far outside the normal range may be engaging in volitional sleep restriction or have serious health problems.
‘An individual who intentionally restricts sleep over a prolonged period may be comprising his or her health and well-being.’
The panel recommend:
Newborns (0-3 months): Sleep range narrowed to 14 to 17 hours a day – previously it was 12 to 18
Infants (4-11 months): Sleep range widened two hours to 12 to 15 hours – previously it was 14 to 15
Toddlers (1-2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour to 11 to 14 hours – previously it was 12 to 14
Preschoolers (3-5): Sleep range widened by one hour to 10 to 13 hours – previously it was 11 to 13
School-age children (6-13): Sleep range widened by one hour to 9 to 11 hours – previously it was 10 to 11
Teenagers (14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8 to 10 hours – previously it was 8.5 to 9.5
Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7 to 9 hours – new age category
Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7 to 9 hours
Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7 to 8 hours – new age category
The NSF’s report found children aged four months to 17 years old need more sleep than was previously recommended. Past studies have found a lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, shortening life expectancy
The NSF’s report found children aged four months to 17 years old need more sleep than was previously recommended. Past studies have found a lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, shortening life expectancy
Charles Czeisler, chair of the board of the NSF and chief of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said: ‘This is the first time that any professional organisation has developed age-specific recommended sleep durations based on a rigorous, systematic review of the world scientific literature relating sleep duration to health, performance and safety.
HOW TO GET MORE SLEEP
The expert panel said following simple yet effective advice it is possible to improve sleeping habits.
They include:
* Sticking to a regular sleep schedule – even at the weekend
* Practising a relaxing bedtime ritual
* Exercising daily
* Switching off all technology some time before going to bed
‘The NSF is providing these scientifically grounded guidelines on the amount of sleep we need each night to improve the sleep health of the millions of individuals and parents who rely on us for this information.
‘As the voice for sleep health it is the NSF’s responsibility to make sure that our recommendations are supported by the most rigourous science.
‘Individuals, particularly parents, rely on us for this information.’
Max Hirshkowitz, chair of the NSF Scientific Advisory Council, added: ‘The public can be confident that these recommendations represent the best guidance for sleep duration and health.’
David Cloud, chief executive of the NSF, added: ‘The NSF sleep duration recommendations will help individuals make sleep schedules that are within a healthy range.
‘They also serve as a useful starting point for individuals to discuss their sleep with their health care providers.’
The study was published in Sleep Health: The Official Journal of the National Sleep Foundation.
Different techniques to help you get more sleep
Source: Daily Mail
