How many hours should we sleep per night. The myth of eight hours of sleep has been debunked
Scientists have revealed the exact number of hours of sleep needed to reduce the risk of depression by a fifth.
Research from the University of Cambridge shows that those who regularly sleep between seven and nine hours per night significantly reduce their chances of suffering from depression.
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One study suggests that sleep can reduce the risk of depression by one fifth.
Sleeping between seven and nine hours per night reduces your chances of suffering from depression by 22%. And those who maintained regular social connections through meetings with friends had an 18% lower risk of this condition.
"While our DNA - the genetic hand we've been dealt - can increase our risk of depression, we've shown that a healthy lifestyle is potentially more important", said the study's author, Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge, regarding this major study conducted on nearly 290,000 individuals.
Another study, which focused on the sleep patterns of 64,000 healthcare workers in the USA, showed that lost nights increase the risk of diabetes by 19%.
Useful tips for a good night's sleep
Sleep experts have shared some tips to ensure you have a restful sleep.
Avoid consuming caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, as they can "increase anxiety and disrupt sleep".
"Drinking alcoholic beverages close to bedtime can also increase your heart rate, keeping you awake. It's best to drink plenty of water throughout the day and stay hydrated, but if you drink too much water before bedtime, it could mean more trips to the bathroom during the night, which can disrupt your sleep, so it's important to find the right balance", said an expert from SleepSeeker for Mirror.
"Managing light levels, temperature and noise might be the solution to alleviating concerns and ensuring uninterrupted sleep through the night. In general, a darker, cooler and quieter sleep environment increases the chances of uninterrupted sleep. However, individual preferences vary, so it's essential to discover what suits you best. Taking a relaxing bath or shower can also help lower your body temperature, so try doing these things right before bedtime and see if it helps", he explained.
