Americans Don't Get Enough Sleep - how many hours a night do you sleep?

The National Sleep Foundation has releases its annual "Sleep in America Poll," which reveals how much sleep Americans are getting, what their bedtime habits are, and who's taking medications when sleep is elusive. This year, for the first time, the report explored differences in the sleep habits of different ethnic groups.

And overall, no one's getting enough sleep. Fewer than half of respondents from each ethnic group say they get a good night's sleep on most nights.

African Americans reported the least amount of sleep. Inadequate sleep is starting to be associated with obesity, heart disease and diabetes -- all diseases that are more prevalent among African Americans.

Each person's sleep requirement is different. Some people find that they only need 5-6 hours of sleep, while others need 10-11 hours for optimal performance. The average adult functions best with 7-8 hours of sleep a night; however, it is important to consider how much sleep you need on an individual basis.

Share with us! On average how many hours of sleep each night?

Sources:
USA Today March 8, 2010

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