How Much Sleep Do You Need to Prevent Symptoms of Insomnia?

How much sleep you you need to prevent chronic insomnia? For years people believed they needed seven to ten hours of sleep each night to get adequate rest. Recent research however, suggests that different people may need less or more sleep depending on their medical history, age, biochemistry and more. How much sleep do you need to feel rested? Better yet, how much sleep does a person need to prevent sleep deprivation or other chronic health conditions?

There is no one concensus today about how much sleep a person needs to maintain health. Most doctors recommend adults sleep for 7 to 8 hours every night, seven days each week. This is not the "standard" however, for many people. Some people find they function and feel well after sleeping for only 5 to 6 hours every night. Other people, especially adolescents, report needing 10 or more hours of sleep each night to feel their best during the day. People often need varying levels of sleep during different life stages, as in childhood or during pregnancy, a time when most women need more sleep than average. Elderly patients often find they need less sleep, while others report the need for more sleep because they suffer from sleep disorders resulting in sleep deprivation.

There are many problems associated with too little sleep. Insomnia often results when people do not sleep enough at night. Insomnia may be acute or become chronic if you do not learn how much sleep your body needs to remain healthy. Too little or too much sleep can result in sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, general ill health, poor concentration and many other unwelcome symptoms. Many people feel confused because they believe they need to sleep at least eight hours each night, but may find they feel fine after sleeping only 6 to 7 hours a night.