Sleeping FAQ

Does your brain shutdown during sleep? - There is no evidence that shows your brain shutting down during sleep. Some physiological processes become more active during sleep.
Will getting 1 hour less sleep per night than needed effect daytime functioning? - You may not feel noticeably tired during the day but losing this amount of sleep can affect your ability to think and respond quickly. Also the loss of sleep can affect your cardiovascular heath and energy balance as well as the ability to fight common infections.
Does your body adjust quickly to different sleep schedules? - Our biological clock makes us most alert during the daytime and most drowsy at night. It can take more than a week to adjust to a dramatically altered sleep/wake cycle.
Do people need less sleep as they get older? - As you get older you don’t require less sleep it is more of simply not getting the refreshing sleep required. As we age, we spend less time in deep sleep, the restful stages of sleep and we can be more easily awakened. Older people often times have other medical issues that can interfere with sleep.
Can excess sleep at night help with daytime tiredness? - Both quality and quantity of sleep is important. People can sleep 8 to 9 hours a night and not wake up feeling rested because the quality of their sleep is poor. Determining the cause of the poor quality of sleep and fixing the issues will achieve a restful night’s sleep.
Can you make up for lost sleep by sleeping more on the weekends? - This type of sleeping pattern may relieve part of a sleep debt, it will not completely make up for the lack of sleep. Doing this can make it difficult for falling asleep Sunday night and waking early on Monday.

Are naps a waste of time? - Naps can be restorative and help counteract some of the performance issues caused from a lack of sleep at night. Naps can even help you learn how to do certain tasks quicker. You should not take a nap later than 3 p.m. and it should be limited to under an hour.
Is snoring normal? - Snoring is a coming phenomenon as you sleep, however snoring on a regular basis can make you tired during the day.

References: US Department of Health and Human Services