Here is the fourth in an on-going series on misconceptions that can literally kill you. Today's misconception looks at the harmful misconception that some people can function on just a couple of hours of sleep per night. The amount of sleep one needs to remain healthy varies by age. There's the general rule of 8 hours per night, but children and teenagers typically need more. An adequate sleep range for adults is 7 to 9 hours, but if you are getting a bit less than 7 hours because you are naturally waking up (as opposed to forcing yourself to wake up), you are likely fine.
Consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night is not healthy, even if you feel you are functioning fine. WebMD has a great site listing the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
10 Things to Hate About Sleep Loss
That is quite the list and shows that lack of sleep can literally kill you. Hand-eye coordination drops considerably on lack of sleep and one's reaction time increases to dangerous levels. Driving or operating heavy machinery on lack of sleep can literally kill you or someone else near you. According to the CDC, sleep deprivation caused 800+ car accident deaths in 2013. This is serious business.
Even if you don't feel the effects of sleep deprivation, consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night is putting you in direct danger that could result in serious injury or death. It's very simple. You are NOT fine when you lack sleep, even if you feel fine.
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