How much sleep do adults need?
Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night, according to sleep experts and the CDC. About a third of US adults regularly get less than that.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults aged 18 to 60 sleep 7 or more hours a night on a regular basis. Teenagers need more, about 8 to 10 hours, and school-age children 9 to 12 hours. Needs vary a little between individuals, but very few adults function well on 6 hours or less over time.
Sleep is when the body repairs tissues, the brain stores memories and the immune system does important work. Regularly sleeping too little is linked with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression, as well as accidents caused by drowsiness.
Tips for better sleep
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, keeping the bedroom dark, quiet and cool, and avoiding caffeine late in the day and screens before bed can all help. If you often feel exhausted despite enough time in bed, or snore loudly, it is worth talking to a doctor.
Did You Know?
Adults usually cycle through four or five sleep cycles a night, each lasting about 90 minutes and including dreaming, or REM, sleep. Waking at the end of a cycle often feels easier than waking in the middle of one.
This answer is general information, not medical advice. For a personal health question, talk to a doctor.