Scientists aren’t sure, but it’s clear that sleep helps the brain process memories and is good for mood, focus and metabolism.
The researchers said that getting at least five hours of sleep a night can reduce the chances of developing various health problems for those over fifty. Poor health can get in the way of sleep — but lack of sleep can also be a warning or a danger in its own right, they say.
There is evidence that sleep helps restore and rejuvenate the body and mind by resting and rejuvenating – but why the “golden number of hours of sleep” might matter is still unclear.
According to the BBC, the PLoS Medicine study tracked the health and sleep of UK civil servants.
The nearly 8,000 participants were asked: How many hours of sleep do you get on average at night?
Some also used hours of sleep.
They were screened for chronic conditions, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease, over two decades of follow-up:
Those who slept five hours or less at age 50 had a 30% higher risk of developing multiple diseases than those who slept seven hours.
Less sleep at age 50 was also associated with an increased risk of death during the study period, often associated with an increased risk of chronic disease.
Experts generally recommend around seven or eight hours, say researchers from University College London and Paris City University.
Why Do We Sleep?
Scientists aren’t sure, but it’s clear that sleep helps the brain process memories and is good for mood, focus and metabolism.
Sleep is also an opportunity for the brain to clear itself of waste.
Good sleeping tips:
- We’ll get tired during the day by keeping busy and active, but slow at bedtime.
- Let’s avoid naps during the day
- We will establish a good nighttime routine and ensure that our bedroom allows us to relax and sleep with thick drapes or blackout drapes, room temperature and comfortable bedding without major distractions such as smartphones in bed
- Let’s reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
- If you can’t sleep, don’t force or get frustrated – do something relaxing for a while, like reading a book, and come back when you feel sleepy.
- If we work shifts at difficult times, let’s try to take a nap before our first shift. If we work at night, try to take a nap to make up for what you missed and then go to bed early
- Surrey Sleep Centre’s director, Professor Dirk Jan Dyck, told BBC News: “This study confirms that lack of sleep is not good for us. In general, it is not healthy – although it may be good for some. That’s why they sleep. Some people have less. What causes it and can we do something about it? Sleep is a somewhat modifiable lifestyle factor.”
