India

Losing just 1 hour of sleep can do this to you

Importance of sleep
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Importance of sleep
Sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of the human body, ensuring optimum energy levels necessary for performing daily activities effectively. Good sleep hygiene enhances life satisfaction and productivity, especially in early life stages.

​Consequences of sleep deprivation
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​Consequences of sleep deprivation
More than one-third of adults do not get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep, leading to adverse effects on the human body. Neurologists, including Dr. Sudhir Kumar from Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, emphasize that losing even one hour of sleep can take days to recover and can cause headaches, poor focus, irritability, and poor decision-making.
​​Viral awareness ​
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​​Viral awareness ​
Dr. Sudhir Kumar's post about the effects of sleep deprivation went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion about the critical importance of sleep. Many users highlighted the increasing importance of sleep due to high-stress levels and poor lifestyle habits.
Sleep duration by age
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Sleep duration by age
In response to queries, Dr. Kumar provided a breakdown of the average daily sleep needed by different age groups:
Newborns (up to 3 months): 14 to 17 hours
Infants (4 to 12 months): 12 to 16 hours, including naptime
Young children (1 to 5 years): 10 to 14 hours, including naptime
School-aged children (6 to 12 years): 9 to 12 hours
Teenagers (13 to 18 years): 8 to 10 hours
Adults (18 years and up): 7 to 9 hours
​Compensating sleep deficit​
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​Compensating sleep deficit​
Dr. Kumar confirmed that while sleeping for 7-9 hours at night in one go is ideal, it is possible to compensate for the sleep deficit by napping during the daytime if night-time sleep is insufficient. This flexibility can help individuals manage their sleep better amidst busy schedules.
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