How much sleep is enough?

[Archangel2]

I normally fall asleep around 10:30p.m. at night and have to wake up at about 6:00 a.m. I am a teenager so how much sleep do I really need to be getting to not feel so tired through the day?

[ANDY-J2]

Some people need more sleep than others-women in fact tend to sleep slightly longer than men.I suffer from insomnia and some times only get three or four hours sleep a night but my body has adjusted to this and I don't feel too many ill effects as long as I don't go several nights at a time without proper sleep.Napoleon was probably right when he said'six hours sleep for a man,seven for a woman,eight for a fool'.I think most people can get by with about six or seven hours sleep a night.

[fuzzyblue]

napoleon would think i'm a real fool!!! i need 8 or 9 hours. sometimes more. ....zzzzzzz.....

try sleeping more, archangel. if you're a teenager, you probably need more than someone older. try 8 or 9 hours. try earplugs or covering your window with dark cloth if it helps.

[Mamie]

Sometimes it isn't the total hours that will effect you but when you sleep. I feel best if I get a couple of hours before midnight and get about 7.5 hours.

I have heard of research that says you should go for 6 or 7.5 or 9 hours or in increments of the natural sleep cycle of ~ 90 minutes. I have also seem research that actively growing teens need closer to 9 hours for optimal health.

[ANDY-J2]

The sleep cycle does last about ninety minutes and during that time we go through two distinct types of sleep.When we first fall asleep we experience mostly what is known as slow wave sleep which is when our metabolism slows down and our bodies rest.As the night progresses however we have less of this type of sleep and increasing amounts of REM sleep.This is also known as paradoxical sleep because far from resting our metabolism and blood pressure increase dramatically and it is during this stage of sleep that we tend to dream.The brain activity in REM sleep is almost the same as our brain activity when we are awake.When people are deprived of sleep for long periods it is thought to be a lack of REM sleep which leaves them feeling disorientated and mentally exhausted.REM sleep is inhibited by things like alchohol or caffeine and there is a chemical called melatonin which supposedly encourages REM sleep.I understand that this can be bought over the counter as a herbal remedy in the USA but for some reason it is not available in the UK without a medical prescription.Chamomile is also supposed to be good for curing insomnia however it didn't work for me.

[Archangel2]

Thanks for your help! I'll give 'em a try! :-)