An
occasional sleepless night can result
from many factors including worry
or stress, illness, excitement,
and workload. But persistently having
trouble falling or staying asleep
is a sleep disorder known as insomnia.
The lack of adequate sleep may make
an individual irritable, hamper
the immune system, and lead to fatigue,
thus affecting the overall quality
of life. On
an average, an adult requires
seven to eight hours of sleep.
Infants, children, and adolescents
typically require more sleep.
However, not all adults need eight
hours of sleep. Some adults may
manage with four to five hours
of sleep whereas some may need
as many as ten hours.
Studies
have shown that at least one out
of every ten Americans suffers
from chronic insomnia and about
one in four suffers from some
type of sleeping disorder leading
to irregular sleeping patterns.
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