Posted by laima on October 13, 2006, at 11:03:45
In reply to Re: Sleep Deprivation improves longevity, posted by notfred on October 10, 2006, at 23:37:50
Thanks, sharp reading! There are accounts of people dying due to total sleep deprivation, and it doesn't take all that long. Days of total sleep deprivation is of course also one of the controversial torture methods used in certain wars going on. (No risk for further comment.) I speculate too, that sleep needs might vary over seasons and over the lifespan, and it's well documented that, for example, teens need much more like 10 hours, whereas elderly people do fine on as little as 4-5. Like you say, kind of individual. Alas, my problem in winter, even as early as October when the darkness starts, is needing more sleep than I wish I needed to function optimally. Those younger people who claim they need 3-4 hours of sleep and feel great either won a genetic lottery, or are lying, in my opinion.> I disagree that this article indicates " Sleep Deprivation improves longevity"
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> Here is what it says:
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> "There is really no evidence that the average 8-hour sleeper functions better than the average 6- or 7-hour sleeper," Kripke says, on the basis of his ongoing psychiatric practice with patients along with research, including the large study of a million adults"
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> 6-8 hours seems normal for most people & I do not see where it is suggested sleep deprivation is a good thing. Sleeping more than you need to may not improve functioning. Amount of sleep needed is highly personal, so if someone needs 8 and another person can function as well on 6, does this really tell us anything about sleeping less or more having benefits ?
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poster:laima
thread:693564
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061011/msgs/694461.html