This is sponsored content for Peel Health Campus, part of Ramsay Health Care.
Is daytime sleepiness stealing your spark? Do you struggle through your day in a fog of fatigue? In one of a series of articles from Mandurah's Peel Health Campus (PHC), part of Ramsay Health Care, aimed at keeping our community healthier, PHC respiratory and sleep specialist Dr Justin Ng advises how much sleep is needed for sound health and function, and suggests ways to help you get a better night's kip.
Good sleep is important for our health and wellbeing. It's just as important as eating well and getting enough exercise.
Lack of sleep can have a major impact on mood, concentration, and memory.
I'm often asked the question: how much sleep does an adult need?
The Australasian Sleep Association has endorsed the 2015 recommendations of the US-based National Sleep Foundation.
Young adults 18 to 25 generally need seven to nine hours a night, but as few as six hours, or as many as ten to 11 hours can be OK for some.
Adults 26 to 64 are also recommended to get seven to nine hours a night, but many can function reasonably well on as few as six or as many as ten.
Older adults can function well on a little less sleep: seven to eight hours is a healthy range, or some need just five to six hours or up to nine hours.
A person who routinely gets less than the necessary amount of sleep for their needs and experiences impaired daytime functioning is said to have 'chronic sleep insufficiency'.
This condition is common in our modern society and I see it frequently in clinical practice.
Chronic sleep insufficiency can result from a variety of factors, including work demands/stress, social and family responsibilities, modern technology, medical conditions, and sleep disorders.
Some common culprits are:
Tips for better sleep
There is action you can take to try to address the problem and help you get enough slumber time.
Here's some suggestions:
If you are still having trouble achieving adequate sleep and are concerned about a medical or sleep disorder, make sure you see your doctor for an assessment.
More information on sleep health is available at www.sleepfoundation.org and www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au
This content is sponsored by Peel Health Campus, which is part of Ramsay Health Care.