SLEEP BANK BUST

A study by the University of Florida has looked at the consequences of sleeping fewer than six hours for eight consecutive nights – the minimum duration of sleep that experts say is necessary to support optimal health in average adults. “Many of us think that we can pay our sleep debt on weekends and be more productive on weekdays,” said lead researcher Professor Soomi Lee. “However, results from this study show that having just one night of sleep loss can significantly impair your daily functioning.” Participants reported a pile-up of angry, nervous, lonely, irritable and frustrated feelings as a result of sleep loss. They also experienced more physical symptoms, such as upper respiratory issues, aches, gastrointestinal problems and other health concerns. These negative feelings and symptoms were continuously elevated throughout consecutive sleep loss days and didn’t return to baseline levels unless they had a night sleep of more than six hours. Lee says the best way to maintain a strong daily performance is to set aside more than six hours to sleep every night.