You really do need that much sleep

We spend a third of our lives sleeping and lots of waking hours obsessing over whether we’re getting enough.

No wonder. Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of problems, including concentration issues, depression and even cancer.

So how many zzz’s must you count to be enough? Depends on the individual, like everything.

For Martha Stewart four hours is a good thing. Billionaire Bill Gates hits the hay for at least seven.

Still, sleep scientists have come up with guidelines. The National Institutes of Health and other organizations recommend between seven and nine hours of sleep a night for a healthy adult.

 

Age is a factor of where you’ll land on that spectrum. Those over 65, many of whom struggle to get and stay asleep to begin with, need about seven, while 20 year olds need nine, according to Phyllis C. Zee, M.D., director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

You can get by on less shuteye in the short-term, but sleep debt adds up and will force it back to the needed hours.

“Your body and your brain will eventually win out,” said Zee, adding that exercise and light are key to maximizing sleep time.