How much sleep do we really need?

[Sleep] is more than a luxury or idle downtime, it’s a vital biological process that supports nearly every system in your body. It allows your brain to consolidate memories, clear metabolic waste, regulate hormones and repair muscle tissue.

Despite its essential role, many of us aren’t getting enough rest; it’s a shortfall that can quietly erode both physical and mental well-being.

Most healthy adults are advised to get between seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Babies typically need 12 to 16 hours, while children 12 and younger should get nine to 14 hours, depending on where they fall in that age range. Teenagers require about eight to 10 hours nightly, and adults 65 and older may do fine with seven to eight hours nightly, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

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While getting seven hours of sleep each night is the recommended minimum, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that more than 1/3 of Americans still don’t get even that amount ….

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