Are Texans Getting Enough Sleep at Night?

I can give you a quick answer: no. You may say "I don't know what you're talking about, stranger on the internet. I have my full nighttime routine and get 12 hours of sleep each night, teehee." First off, I am not pleased to be in your presence if you say that. Also, look at the facts!

How Sleepy is Texas?

According to America's Health Rankings, 36.9% of Texans sleep fewer than seven hours a night, on average. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends that adults should sleep for seven to nine hours each night in order to avoid increased health issues.

Exceptions to this would include young adults, also if you are recovering from a sickness or if you are sleep deprived in some way.

For kids and teenagers, they're the lucky ones. NHLBI breaks down recommended sleep by age category:

• 13-18 years of age = 8 to 10 hours/day
• 6-12 years of age = 9 to 12 hours/day
• 3-5 years of age = 10 to 13 hours/day
• 1-2 years of age = 11 to 14 hours/day

If your child is four months to a year old, then they should get a whopping 12 to 16 hours of sleep. And newborns? Well, those sleep times vary for your convenience...

Get our free mobile app

Why Sleep is Crucial

Look, I don't have to tell you that sleeping is good for you, but there may be some reasons explaining why that you may not have known.

First off, your heart needs the rest. Not sleeping enough can lead to health issues like high blood pressure and strokes.

Your body also processes the fat you eat at certain times, depending on your circadian clock. So, changing when you sleep and for how long each week can hurt your digestion and metabolism.

Lastly, your immune system and memory are both impacted by lack of sleep. You may find that some people are more likely to be sick when they don't get enough sleep at night. It's also tough to focus on tasks and remember clearly throughout the day when you have barely slept or not at all.

The next time I oversleep and I'm late for work, I will tell my boss that it was for personal health reasons...