How Much Sleep Do You Need at Night to Stay Healthy: Popular Claim Turns Out to Be a Myth

10.09.2024 09:04
Updated: 27.09.2024 21:06

For a long time, it was believed that to maintain health, you need to sleep exactly eight hours at night.

But recent research suggests that the popular claim may be, if not a myth, then a misconception.

The optimal period of nighttime sleep is not eight hours at all, according to the staff of the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of the People's Republic of China.

The Secret to Healthy Sleep

The findings of Chinese scientists were presented at a forum of the European Society of Cardiology.

The average duration of nighttime sleep should be from 7 to 9 hours per day.

Bed
Photo: © Belnovosti

The previously stated eight hours of sleep are not at all optimal.

In addition, the practice of “sleeping in” on weekends has been proven to be a guaranteed way to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Scientists called the statement that a person should sleep exactly 8 hours a day a myth.

Compensatory sleep

For anyone who, for various reasons, does not get enough sleep during the work week, researchers recommend spending an additional 1 hour and 28 minutes in bed on the weekend.

Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor

Content
  1. The Secret to Healthy Sleep
  2. Compensatory sleep