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Quantity

Current health recommendations for adult sleep are largely consistent across major health organizations.

 

Center for Disease Control (CDC):

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most adults aged 18-60 years should aim for at least 7 hours of sleep per night. For older adults, the recommendation varies slightly: those aged 61-64 years should get 7-9 hours, and those 65 and older should get 7-8 hours per night. These guidelines emphasize not only the quantity but also the quality of sleep. Good sleep quality is vital and is characterized by feeling rested after sleeping and not waking up frequently during the night​.

 

 

Sleep Foundation:

The Sleep Foundation echoes these recommendations, stating that most healthy adults require a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night. They further elaborate that infants, young children, and teenagers need more sleep to support their growth and development. The foundation provides a breakdown by age group, suggesting that infants (4-12 months) need 12-16 hours, toddlers (1-2 years) need 11-14 honed 11-14 hours, preschoolers (3-5 years) 10-13 hours, school-age children (6-12 years) 9-12 hours, and teenagers (13-18 years) 8-10 hours of sleep, respectively. Adults 18 years and older are recommended to get 7 or more hours of sleep.

 

 

American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM):

The guidelines are based on extensive research. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine organized a panel of sleep experts who reviewed hundreds of studies on sleep duration and key health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, depression, pain, and diabetes. This rigorous process underscores the importance of these recommendations for overall health and well-being. However, it's important to note that individual sleep needs can vary based on factors like activity level and overall health​.

 

 

Bibliography​

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  • PubMed. "Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for Healthy Children: Methodology and Discussion" [Online]. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27707447/

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  • PubMed. "Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society" [Online].  Available:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26039963/

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