Our Needs for Sleep
Infants-Babies
require about 16 hours of sleep per day.
Teenagers-Teenagers
need 9 hours of sleep on average every day.
Adults-The
optimal amount of sleep for adults is 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day.
Pregnant
Women-Women in the first 3 months of pregnancy require more sleep during this
time.
Sleep
helps neurons, used throughout the day shut down for repair. It also gives the brain an opportunity to
exercise neuronal connections that may go otherwise unused. In young adults, deep sleep is necessary for
the release of growth hormones, while cell production and repair in general
happens during this stage. Sleep is also
necessary to maintain proper emotional and social functioning.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
- Weakened
immune system
- Impaired
memory
- Loss of
concentration
- Prolonged
deprivation can lead to hallucinations
- Mood
swings
- Impaired
physical performance
- Depression
- Increase
in blood pressure
- Excess
weight
- Lack of
reflexes
- Increase
in diabetes
- Lack of
hormone production
- Anxiety
- Cardiovascular
disease
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