How Much Sleep Do You Get Per 24 Hours?
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15962)
United States
April 5, 2016 2:49pm CST
While most people sleep at night and work during the day, some people work at night and sleep during the day. Either way, we all need to sleep more than we probably do.
My son went to a sleep clinic and he wears a mask at night. When he travels, he has to take it with him.
We go through different phase of sleep called “rapid eye movement” (REM) about every 60 to 90 minutes and it is during these phases, that the brain is the most active and researchers believe that the brain is performing some kind of self-repair.
If the sleep cycle is interrupted, our brain functions are affected, which can result in a lot of other ailments. For one thing, it can weaken your immune system, because during sleep, our body produces T cells, which fight against diseases.
During sleep, our body also produces the hormone leptin, which helps to regulate appetite. So the body needs sleep as much as it needs proper diet and exercise.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 says: “Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, regardless of whether it is little or much that he eats, but the plenty belonging to the rich one is not permitting him to sleep.”
Many things can cause anxieties of life and worries about what someone has stored up for the future, but that could rob a person of restful sleep.
Do you think you get enough sleep?
11 people like this
15 responses
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
I stay up late too. It's midnight right now and I was up at 8 this morning. I will still be up for at least another hour, reading after I leave the computer.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I have two kids and between the two of them being up at different times, I am sure I do not get enough sleep. In fact I was told I don't by a doctor. My thought was if he is that concerned about it, he should keep the kids overnight. HAHAHA
2 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
6 Apr 16
@IreneVincent Does her youngest have health/mental issues or is it just the toddler stage? I guess I didn't mention one has add and the other is autistic. LOL They are both funny as anything. No sleep doesn't slow them down. It does me.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Good idea! My granddaughter definitely does not get enough sleep. Her youngest, who is four, rarely sleeps through the night.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Apr 16
overall I get enough sleep, but it's in cycles. I work both during the day and sometimes during the night and sometimes both. During those time, I try to sleep four hours before and after the nighttime job. Sometimes I think I get too much sleep, but not always. I'm hoping it evens out enough.
If I didn't have to continually get up during the night to get rid of all the fluids I drink during the day, I might get a more restful sleep, but I don't usually stress during the night.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Apr 16
@IreneVincent This is a better shift for me currently, for it's allowing me to get hospital bills paid off and also some debt. Once those are taken care of I'd have the option to go back to working part-time, but if I stay with these hours my pension will be a tad bigger. So it may be worth it overall.
If our employer allows more to go full-time, then that person would get the brunt of the night-time shifts when vacations take place.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
I used to work a "split shift" when I was a long distance telephone operator years ago. 9 am to1pm and then 4pm to 9pm. I didn't like that AT ALL. I finally got a better shift 1:30PM to 9:30 PM. That way I didn't have to get up early and still got home before 10pm
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
I try to get about seven hours every night. I've learned that I need total dark to sleep well. The alarm clock is now on my hubbies side of the bed.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I was just wondering why you put the name, Ishtar, in your comment about sleep?
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
It's true. I understand what you are saying. Sometimes you can get too much sleep and it makes you feel groggy all day long.
1 person likes this
@Bunny28 (190)
• Lillington, North Carolina
6 Apr 16
@IreneVincent yes it sucks because if you don't have someone to snap you out of it you are likely to give into the sleep and stay in bed.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
5 Apr 16
I sleep between four and a half hours to seven and a half.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
7 and 1/2 is better for you. Don't ruin your health for trivial things. I understand if you just can't because of the life you lead. I have to make myself turn off the light at night and go to sleep, because if I'm reading a good book, I don't want to put it down.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Apr 16
@IreneVincent Almost always though, I sleep between 6 and a half hours and 7 and a half. It's only seldom that I get to sleep four and a half when I have meetings.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Usually six hours at least 7 and one half is best for me. I often lay back down after making sure my husband gets off to work.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
That's good. A person should get at least 7 and 1/2 hours sleep. I sometimes take a nap in the afternoon if I stay up late.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Try to get more sleep if you can. Its better for your health.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31961)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
5 Apr 16
I am lucky if I get between 5-6 hours.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
You really need more than that. But, sometimes it can't be done when you have a busy schedule. Don't ruin your health though.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
7 Apr 16
@enlightenedpsych2 We do need sleep for our bodies to function correctly. Sleep-deprived humans can not and do not function to their best ability.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36438)
• Toccoa, Georgia
6 Apr 16
I sleep between 7 and 8 hours a night. That is the right amount of sleep for me.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Yes, that is a good average amount that each person really needs. So, its good that you can get those hours of sleep time.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Yes, I have to have a nap ever so often myself.
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43427)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
5 Apr 16
It takes three hours to wind down and finally fall off to sleep. After that I only need two hours. But here's the catch. It takes me another 2 hours to really wake up. I won't feel rested if I don't lye there for at least an hour.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Apr 16
Sounds like an interesting routine you go through to sleep. As soon as I turn the light off, I can go to sleep USUALLY, within 10 minutes. TOPS. And I usually sleep all night without waking up unless there's a noise. I hear the least little noises. I can't sleep at all if the wind is blowing or if its storming.
