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Natural short sleeper
Sleep - natural short sleeper
A natural short sleeper is someone who sleeps a lot less in a 24-hour period than is expected for people of the same age, without being abnormally sleepy.
Causes
Although each person's need for sleep varies, the typical adult needs an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Short sleepers sleep less than 75% of what is normal for their age.
Natural short sleepers are different from people who chronically do not get enough sleep because of work or family demands, or those who have medical conditions that disrupt sleep.
Symptoms
Natural short sleepers are not overly tired or sleepy during the day.
Treatment
No specific treatment is needed.
References
Chokroverty S, Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 102.
Knutson KL, Van Cauter E, Rathouz PJ, DeLeire T, Lauderdale DS. Trends in the prevalence of short sleepers in the USA: 1975-2006. Sleep. 2010;33(1):37-45. PMID: 20120619 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20120619 .
Landolt H-P, Kijk D-J. Genetics and genomic basis of sleep in healthy humans. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 30.
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Natural short sleeper - illustration
A natural short sleeper is an individual who requires less than 8 to 10 hours of sleep per 24 hour period for normal function.
Natural short sleeper
illustration
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Sleep patterns in the young and aged - illustration
Sleep patterns change with age, anxiety levels and many other factors. Normally, younger people have more concentrated periods of deep sleep compared to older people.
Sleep patterns in the young and aged
illustration
-
Natural short sleeper - illustration
A natural short sleeper is an individual who requires less than 8 to 10 hours of sleep per 24 hour period for normal function.
Natural short sleeper
illustration
-
Sleep patterns in the young and aged - illustration
Sleep patterns change with age, anxiety levels and many other factors. Normally, younger people have more concentrated periods of deep sleep compared to older people.
Sleep patterns in the young and aged
illustration
Review Date: 11/14/2016
Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron, Jr. Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
