Sleep loss generally, in adults, refers to sleep of shorter duration than the average basal need of 7 to 8 hours per night. The main symptom of sleep loss is excessive daytime sleepiness, but other symptoms include depressed mood and poor memory or concentration. Chronic sleep loss, while neither a formal syndrome nor a disorder, has serious consequences for health, performance, and safety.
Sleep loss is a highly prevalent problem that continues to worsen in frequency as individuals grow older.
Everyone feels better after a good night’s rest. Ideal sleep requirement varies with age.