Natural short sleeper
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Definition
A natural short sleeper is someone who sleeps a lot less in a 24-hour period than is expected for people of the same age, without being abnormally sleepy.
Alternative Names
Sleep - natural short sleeper
Causes
Although each person's need for sleep varies, the typical adult needs an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Short sleepers sleep less than 75% of what is normal for their age.
Natural short sleepers are different from people who chronically do not get enough sleep because of work or family demands, or those who have medical conditions that disrupt sleep.
Symptoms
Natural short sleepers are not overly tired or sleepy during the day.
Treatment
No specific treatment is needed.
Images
References
Chokroverty S, Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 102.
Landolt H-P, Dijk D-J. Genetics and genomic basis of sleep in healthy humans. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 30.
Mansukhani MP, Kolla BP, St. Louis EK, Morgenthaler TI. Sleep disorders. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2019. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:721-736.