Based in Anchorage, Dr. John Krehlik has provided telemedicine services to the people of Alaska since 1984. Over the course of his career in medicine, Dr. John Krehlik has gained particular experience in areas of home sleep testing, obstructive sleep apnea, and other aspects of sleep medicine. Sleep contributes to overall health in a number of ways. With this in mind, people may wonder whether or not they are getting the right amount of sleep. A general rule is 8 hours of sleep per night. While this figure is not necessarily incorrect, there are a number of factors that must be considered. To start with, an individual’s age plays a key role in the amount of sleep their body requires each night. As an infant, the human body requires more sleep than waking hours. From 4 to 11 months of age, babies need between 12 and 15 hours of sleep per day. Of course, infants are unlikely to get this much sleep without waking up multiple times over the course of a day or night. As individuals age, they require less sleep, though adolescents and teenagers still require considerably more hours of sleep than adults. Individuals aged between 6 and 12 years should sleep between 9 and 12 hours during a 24-hour period, while teenagers should sleep between 8 and 10 hours each night. Finally, the average, healthy adult should sleep between 7 and 9 hours each night. That said, people should consult with their doctors to determine an exact time frame for sleeping. Those who regularly engage in aerobic exercise, for example, may require more recovery time at night, while people living with certain health conditions or those recovering from an illness or surgery may also need additional sleep.

1. How Much Sleep Do Humans Need Each
Night?
Dr. John Krehlik

2. Introduction
Based in Anchorage, Dr. John Krehlik has provided telemedicine services to the people of
Alaska since 1984. Over the course of his career in medicine, Dr. John Krehlik has gained
particular experience in areas of home sleep testing, obstructive sleep apnea, and other
aspects of sleep medicine.

3. Sleep contributes to overall health in a number of ways. With this in mind, people may
wonder whether or not they are getting the right amount of sleep. A general rule is 8
hours of sleep per night. While this figure is not necessarily incorrect, there are a
number of factors that must be considered.

4. To start with, an individual’s age plays a key role in the amount of sleep their body
requires each night. As an infant, the human body requires more sleep than waking
hours. From 4 to 11 months of age, babies need between 12 and 15 hours of sleep per
day. Of course, infants are unlikely to get this much sleep without waking up multiple
times over the course of a day or night.

5. As individuals age, they require less sleep, though adolescents and teenagers still require
considerably more hours of sleep than adults. Individuals aged between 6 and 12 years
should sleep between 9 and 12 hours during a 24-hour period, while teenagers should
sleep between 8 and 10 hours each night.

6. Finally, the average, healthy adult should sleep between 7 and 9 hours each night. That
said, people should consult with their doctors to determine an exact time frame for
sleeping. Those who regularly engage in aerobic exercise, for example, may require more
recovery time at night, while people living with certain health conditions or those
recovering from an illness or surgery may also need additional sleep.