You Need Your Sleep, Seriously

It’s no secret that we live in a fast-paced society. To complete our daily to-do lists we often sacrifice sleep. But by doing so, we decrease our productivity and leave ourselves vulnerable to disease, researchers say.

We’re supposed to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night, but the average American gets 6.9 hours a night. Before the light bulb was invented, the average person got 10 hours of sleep. Going for prolonged periods of time on less than the recommended amount leaves people open to a health diagnosis of high blood pressure, depression or diabetes, among others.

While some of us push ourselves and forgo sleep, others are desperately seeking sleep but can’t seem to find it. These are the people who suffer from sleep disorders that prevent them from getting proper sleep. Some examples include sleep apnea (breathing interruptions during sleep where people wake themselves up), insomnia and restless leg syndrome. If you suffer from any of these, talk with your doctor.

How many hours of sleep do you get a night? What’s preventing you from getting the proper amount? [Health Day]