Do you really need less sleep as you get older or do you just sleep less!?

Question

I'm 57 (no this isn't just a site for the under 20's!) and for the past couple of years have got by on about 6 hours - sometimes 5 and a half hour's sleep a night. I don't usually feel tired the next day so does my body ensure I always get the sleep I need and no more? If I keep trying to go back to sleep - I often end up feeling less refreshed and more groggy. Anyone with similar experiences?

Answer 1

You body does not ensure that you get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is up to you. If you are having trouble sleeping which you indicated you are then you need to mention this to your doctor the next time you have to see him or at your annual physical. You need just as much sleep as you get older. Trouble with sleeping is something you need to discuss with your doc when you see him.

Answer 2

I am 55 and I work 6hours a day 5 days a week as a home help .
Not being able to drive I walk everywhere and I dance one evening a week sometimes more.
So I get tired which is natural.I used to sleep well until I stopped taking HRT about 5years ago.
Since then I wake about every 2 hours and then dont want to get up when the alarm goes off.
So its nothing to do with us oldies taking things easy.

Answer 3

I'm 50 and I get by on 4-5 hours sleep a night and once awake cannot get back to sleep, even on holiday

Answer 4

I tend to doze of during the day, but sleep 6-7 hours at night don't know if age has anything to do with it, I am 54 and disabled so don't tend to move around a lot

Answer 5

usually the more mature generation is less physically active, so they tend to sleep less. If you played or worked as hard as you did in your early twenties now, you would require the same eight to ten hours you slept then. As long as you awaken feeling refreshed, then you are getting enough sleep.

Answer 6

you sleep the main once you're an toddler. in the time of formative years you require greater sleep than adults. the elderly prefer/get greater sleep than center elderly adults. so in case you're someplace between 20-50 provide or take some years, its probably which you dont require as lots sleep as a baby, yet in addition do no longer forget that confident, the customary grownup has lots of stress of their existence to maintain their minds too busy to take a seat back sometimes

Answer 7

It's a bit of both. Children develop and grow during sleeping, that ios why they sleep more than adults. When the growing process ends sleep acts as a healing and recharging process, so it doesn't necessarily mean you need less sleep. It also depends on your lifestyle.

http://www.liafin.co.za/health_beauty.htm

Answer 8

It's not really a need for less sleep - it's a question of Yahoo's too addictive to get any sleep.

It's great trying to get more points & helping people out. However, it IS tiring, so yes - am in total agreement.

Answer 9

i am 57 also and am awake a lot of the night......i thought it was just because i had got used to it when my husband had both dementia and an overactive thyroid...........he only slept for 20 minute bursts day and night.................but since the thyroid is fixed he sleeps and i am awake, fortunately he is quite deaf so i listen to radio 5 most of the night. if i get too much sleep i have a headache when i get up.

Answer 10

i'd think you sleep less as you get older , if you wake up in the middle of the night , it is much harder to get back to sleep . i alway's come downstair's for a hot drink ,i find that help's to get back to sleep .sweet dream's