Fu says researchers have found that short sleepers tend to be more optimistic, more energetic and better multitaskers. They also have a higher pain threshold, don't suffer from jet lag and some researchers believe they may even live longer.
Most adults need seven or more hours of sleep on a regular basis. For most people, getting less than six hours has a negative impact on health and performance.
Numerous studies have found that insufficient sleep increases a person's risk of developing serious medical conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Lack of adequate sleep over time has been associated with a shortened lifespan.
Short sleeper syndrome (SSS) is a sleep condition characterized by sleeping for fewer than six hours each night. Most adults need seven or more hours of sleep each night to feel rested in the morning. Those with SSS, however, can function normally throughout the day despite less sleep.
Short sleepers were found generally to be smooth, efficient persons with a tendency towards handling stress by keeping busy and by denial. Long sleepers were "worriers" and were chronically somewhat depressed or anxious; they scored higher than the short sleepers on most tests of pathology.
rejoice! New research suggests that sleeping late is a sign of intelligence and that late sleepers may have a higher IQ and be less stressed! I want to wake up early. But for some reason, my body doesn't share that same desire!
Around one percent of the population are short sleepers, meaning they sleep six hours or less each night, yet still function normally.
Generally, high achievers tend to sleep less, Brager tells CNET. "If you look at US presidents, successful CEOs and military leaders, many report sleeping little but feeling fine and don't need stimulants to stay awake," she says. "Daily sleep needs fall along the bell curve like most physiological processes in nature.
Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep per night to wake up feeling rested and mentally fresh. Limiting your sleep raises your risk for developing many health problems such as diabetes, depression, or cardiovascular disease.
Short sleepers are a rarity. While most people need around eight hours of sleep to be in tip-top shape, short sleepers need only between four and six hours to function just as well.
Folks who stay up late and struggle to wake in the morning have a 10 percent higher risk of dying sooner than so-called "morning larks" who are early to bed and early to rise, said lead researcher Kristin Knutson.
For adults, getting less than seven hours of sleep a night on a regular basis has been linked with poor health, including weight gain, having a body mass index of 30 or higher, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression.
Despite these trends, the research mostly agrees that six hours of sleep is not enough for most adults. Experts recommend that most adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Short sleeper syndrome is a condition that allows you to operate on less than six hours of sleep. It affects about 1% of the population, including celebrities like Barack Obama and Martha Stewart.
A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep.
The most common symptom is daytime sleepiness. A short sleeper will not experience this. Their quality of sleep will be good and they won't need to take naps or “catch up” on sleep over the weekend.
“For most of us, four hours of sleep per night isn't enough to wake up feeling rested and mentally alert, no matter how well you sleep,” he says. “Not getting enough sleep can lead to health concerns, including impaired memory, lack of alertness, and irritability.”
This is because our brain is constantly forming new connections while we are awake. The longer we are awake, the more active our minds become. Scientists believe that this is partly why sleep deprivation has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression. However, there are negative outcomes of this, too.
Studies show that night owls and those who wake up later actually are smarter and more creative than their early rising counterparts. They also have higher IQs according to The Independent. Unfortunately, night owls have slightly lower academic scores than early risers (by about 8%).
He strives for an average of 6-6.5 hours a night. Sleeping less than 8 hours each night didn't quite work for Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, who collapsed from sleep deprivation due to 18-hour work days.
Successful entrepreneurs, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett, prioritise rest and swear by seven to eight hours of peaceful sleep.
The “short sleep” gene appears to be rare. Fu estimated that it may be found in only three percent of people.
The DEC2 genetic mutation that affects the body's circadian rhythm is extremely rare. It's estimated that only about 1% of the population are true natural short sleepers. What is the short sleep gene? There are actually three genes that are associated with your circadian rhythm and sleep –– DEC2, ADRB1, and NPSR1.