Researchers have uncovered the ideal amount of sleep required each night to maintain a healthy balance in the body, debunking a common “myth” about sleep duration.
Presented at a European Society of Cardiology meeting by China’s National Centre for Cardiovascular Disease, the study suggests that the average person needs between seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Loughborough University’s emeritus professor Kevin Morgan has stated that this research challenges the widely held belief that eight hours is the magic number for sleep.
Speaking to The Times, Professor Morgan highlighted how the findings also reveal the health benefits of enjoying a weekend lie-in, which can contribute to lowering the risk of heart disease.
Professor Morgan remarked: “The latest study is yet another to explode the myth that we need exactly eight hours’ sleep a night.”, reports the Express.
He added, “If we have to put a number on it, most people need somewhere between seven and nine hours each night, but there are always outliers.”
The research further delved into the advantages of extended sleep during weekends, known as compensatory sleep, noting improvements with just an additional 1.28 hours in bed. In certain instances, extra sleep correlated with a decreased likelihood of developing heart disease.
Yanjun Song, the study’s lead author, clarified: “Sufficient compensatory sleep is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. The association becomes even more pronounced among individuals who regularly experience inadequate sleep on weekdays.”
What this signifies is that individuals who miss out on adequate sleep during the workweek could benefit by catching up on their slumber at weekends.
While getting extra shuteye might lower ones risk of developing heart conditions, not everyone can manage such luxury, as many find it hard even to drift off to sleep.
This shortage of rest can result in negative conduct throughout the day, with a survey involving 2,000 participants revealing that nearly 90 percent have felt ‘tangry’a blend of being tired and angry.
Discussing the reasons behind ‘tangry’ reactions, sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock explained: “Our sleep, well-being and behaviour are intimately linked. A lack of sleep can alter the emotional control centres of the brain, making us more sensitive to stress, and reducing self-control.”
“Some people become more impulsive and aggressive. This survey is also a valuable reminder that many of us can feel like a different person when we are sleep deprived and can lash out in ways we later regret.”