Proper amounts of sleep are beneficial to heart health. With too little sleep, your body may be more at risk for contracting heart disease, yet with too much sleep you may also be harming your cardiovascular system. Regulating your sleep hours may give your heart health a boost. Let’s take a look at the best proper amount of sleep that you should shoot for in order to improve your heart health – take note, you’ll want to speak with your personal cardiologist for medical advice and a sleep schedule that is right for your current heart condition.
The Proper Amount of Sleep for Your Age
We’ve all heard the age-old adage that everyone needs 8 hours of sleep per day. And while, that’s a good amount of sleep for most of us, it’s not the perfect guideline. For instance, toddlers and tots need far more sleep than adults. That makes sense, because babies are actively growing their brains and bodies. Rest gives youngsters a reprieve from their demanding daily activities (crawling, crying, and learning about the world).
Humans simply change as they grow and age. That’s why it’s important to recognize that your age can affect how much sleep you need. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the following age groups should get the corresponding amount of sleep to bolster their health:
- Newborn children (aged 0 to 3-months old) should get between 14 and 17 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 11 hours of sleep, and no more than 19 hours of sleep.
- Infants (children between 4 and 11-months old) should get between 12 and 15 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 10 hours of sleep, and no more than 18 hours of sleep.
- Toddlers (children between 1 and 2-years old) should get between 11 and 14 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 9 hours of sleep, and no more than 16 hours of sleep.
- Preschoolers (children between 3 and 5-years old) should get between 10 and 13 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 8 hours of sleep, and no more than 14 hours of sleep.
- School-age children (children between 6 and 13-years old) should get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 7 hours of sleep, and no more than 12 hours of sleep.
- Teens (aged 14 to 17-years old) should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 7 hours of sleep, and no more than 11 hours of sleep.
- Young adults (aged 18 to 25 years old) should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 6 hours of sleep, and no more than 11 hours of sleep.
- Similarly, Adults (aged 26 to 64-years old) should also get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 6 hours of sleep, and no more than 10 hours of sleep.
- Older Adults (aged 65+ years) should get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night, as well as no less than 5 hours of sleep, and no more than 9 hours of sleep.
In general, we need less sleep as we age, and we need more consistent amounts of sleep. While babies need about two thirds of the day to sleep, seniors often need a third or less. Once again, these are only guidelines put forth by the National Sleep Foundation. You may need more or less sleep based on your heart condition, and other health conditions. For instance, those who have experienced a stroke often need more sleep in order to improve brain function after the event.
Consult a Stockton Cardiologist
If you’re curious about your sleep patterns, your heart health, and the best sleep plan for your cardiovascular system, get in touch with your cardiologist here at Stockton Cardiology. We provide cardiology testing, consultation, and treatment solutions for various cardiovascular conditions. If you have a heart condition, or if you need cardiovascular testing, you can count on your local hear specialists here at Stockton Cardiology. View our cardiology services here.