Human health and sleep are closely related. Rest is needed not only to restore strength. During a busy day, the brain accumulates a large amount of information that needs to be processed. Otherwise, mental and emotional “burnout” occurs, negatively affecting well-being. A night’s rest is essential, so it’s worth figuring out how much sleep you need to feel good.
Useful functions
Sleep is one of the most essential human needs, along with the need to satisfy thirst and hunger. During it, all body functions are adjusted. Some reasons why it is so important:
- Rest for the body. By the evening, a person gets tired, and thanks to sleep, the peak activity stops, and the transition to a calm phase occurs.
- The brain processes and organizes the information received during the day. This happens in the deep sleep phase, when the acquired knowledge is consolidated.
- Adaptation to day and night. Without sleep, it is difficult for the body to tolerate the constant change of light and darkness.
- We are improving our health. During rest, T-lymphocytes, which are responsible for strengthening immunity, are activated.
Considering this, it is not worth experimenting with how long you can stay awake. Adequate sleep time is a necessity. Let’s now consider how long it takes for the body to recover after a day’s work.
Optimal duration of sleep
In general, you need at least 7-8 hours for a complete rest, but the body’s needs largely depend on age. Adults sleep much less than children, whose bodies and brains are growing and developing.
Newborns must sleep the longest – from 14 to 17 hours a day. Babies sleep a little less – 12-16 hours. Children under the age of 2 rest up to 14 hours a day. At 3-5 years old, sleep takes about 10 hours. If the body is actively functioning, the body needs much more time to recover.
For teenagers under 18, the time gradually normalizes and reaches the norm — 8 hours. That’s how much an adult needs for full recovery. But with age, the need decreases to 7 hours.
Consequences of sleep disturbance
Not only the duration of rest but also the time allocated for it is essential. So, what time should you go to bed? Most doctors concluded that no later than 10:00 p.m., you should feel energetic and full of energy in the morning. If you follow the regimen, the body’s systems become more balanced. In turn, this will contribute to an excellent emotional state and good health.
The habit of going to bed too late leads to the following negative consequences:
- people become irritable and short-tempered;
- the probability of cardiovascular diseases increases;
- the risk of catching a cold increases due to weakened immunity;
- the skin acquires a gray shade, becomes flabby, and wrinkles appear.
This is what happens if you go to bed late. The body will not have time to recover sufficiently and will not be able to cope with vital functions.
What happens when a person does not sleep
As a result of insufficient rest, physical, mental, and mental disorders occur. After a day without sleep, negative consequences appear. Hormones and blood sugar levels rise, causing stress. After two days, the body begins to act more radically. The brain enters small periods of unconsciousness called microsleep. After 48 hours, the functioning of the immune system is impaired.
Anyone who has not slept for 72 hours desires to sleep. The ability to think becomes minimal – at the level of reflexes. A disturbed rhythm of rest causes depression and paranoia. Scientists have studied how long a person can stay awake. She can live without sleep for no more than ten days while without food – 14.
You must set aside enough time for rest, following a moderate rhythm of life. Only in this case the body and mind will be sufficiently restored, which will have a positive effect on health and emotional state.
