An article published in the American journal Sleep affirms that a 10-hour night does not compensate for the fatigue accumulated during several nights that are too short. 159 adults participated in tests on the quality and duration of their sleep. They scored poorly on their responsiveness and ability to stay alert. Dr. David Dinges, who led this study, concludes that it takes several long nights for the brain to truly regain its sharpness.
Dr Dinges also found that less than six hours of sleep per night for two weeks produced the same negative effects as two sleepless nights. According to him, if you didn’t get enough sleep during the week, you will need at least two good nights to recover and be in full possession of your intellectual faculties.
But no question of sleeping too much either. Also according to this study, sleeping more than 9 hours per night, would increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Figures that the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance recommends taking with caution because, as the Institute recalls, there are small and heavy sleepers, and not all are at risk of heart problems.
What if you took advantage of vacations and unconstrained awakenings to find out what your need for sleep really is?
