Baylor Health Care System
 

Natural short sleeper

Definition

A natural short sleeper is someone who sleeps a lot less in a 24-hour period than is expected for other people of the same age. The person is not excessively sleepy.

Alternative Names

Sleep - natural short sleeper

Causes

Although the individual need for sleep varies quite a bit, the typical adult requires an average of 7 - 10 hours of sleep each night. Short sleepers sleep less than 75% of what is normal for their age, and wake up spontaneously.

Natural short sleepers are different from people who chronically do not get enough sleep because of work or family demands, or who have medical conditions that disrupt sleep.

Review Date: 4/25/2008
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA System, East Orange, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit.

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