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Why You Need at Least 7 Hours of Sleep

By Stepy Kamei

You hopefully know by now how important getting a good night's sleep is to your overall health and wellness. Even if you don't fully understand the science behind sleep, you at least know how you feel on days when you didn't get much sleep the night before: Not great. You may feel fatigued, sluggish, irritable, hungrier than normal, and have increased difficulty concentrating and focusing on your tasks throughout the day. The damaging effects of not getting enough sleep extend far beyond merely feeling tired for one day, however. 

The fact of the matter is that most people need at least seven hours of quality sleep every night, yet more and more of us are failing to do so. Keep on reading to find out why seven is the magic number when it comes to sleep, and how you can avoid the common pitfalls of not getting enough quality rest at night.

The Importance of Seven Hours

There's been quite a lot of research done when it comes to sleep, and that's simply because it's so important. So it should be noted that multiple studies done all across the globe all tend to come to the same conclusion: seven hours of sleep is the ideal amount of time. In fact, many studies further claim that getting up to nine hours is the ideal amount. However, it's important to focus on what happens when a person gets less than seven hours.

Essentially, this equates to sleep deprivation with some pretty damaging consequences to your health. People who regularly get less than seven hours of sleep tend to experience reduced immune system function, but an increased risk of developing weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and mood disorders.

Avoid These Common Sleep Prevention Issues

It may seem overwhelming to try to commit to getting a certain amount of rest every night, but when it comes down to it, sleep is a vital aspect of your well-being that simply can't be pushed to the side for too long without experiencing some pretty hefty consequences to your health as a result.

So what can you do to ensure you're getting some truly restful shut-eye each night? For starters, it may help to start up a regular nighttime routine. An hour before going to bed, start performing the same rituals -- for example, taking a bath, or reading a book. It helps a great deal to shut off all electronic devices as well because the blue light that emanates from these devices can convince your brain it needs to stay awake, rather than the opposite. Speaking of light, it could benefit you to invest in some blackout curtains, especially if you live in an urban environment with lots of light pollution.

If you're still struggling with getting enough rest each night, you should speak to your healthcare practitioner about additional strategies you can try, or to rule out a more serious underlying cause.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Walnut Creek, Calif. 

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