Ask A Doctor: How much sleep should I be getting?

Q: I have heard that less sleep can lead to adverse long-term consequences on health. Is that true? How much sleep should I be getting?

A: What you have read is absolutely correct. There is a large body of research which has shown sleep deprivation can have serious consequences on one's health, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, mood problems, memory loss, hormonal irregularities and osteoporosis. Studies also have shown sleeping fewer than five hours a day, including naps, more than doubles the risk of being diagnosed with angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. There are over 70 million Americans who are chronically sleep deprived. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called it a public health epidemic. Although there are considerable individual differences in sleep duration across all ages, the average duration of sleep and sleep pattern does change with age. Most adults should average seven to eight hours of sleep a day.

- Dr. Anuj Chandra, Advanced Center for Sleep Disorders; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society

Submit your health-related questions for a medical doctor to wholloway@timesfreepress.com or call 423-757-6613.

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