The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends that the average adult
accrue between 7 and 9 hours of quality sleep per night for optimal health and
performance outcomes; for older adults the recommendation becomes 7 to 8 hours per
night [1]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to insufficient sleep as
a public health problem and, subsequently, recommend adequate sleep be considered as
a vital sign of health. Lifestyle choices and personal habits often prohibit individuals
from achieving this recommendation for healthy sleep duration, however, many adults
fail to adhere to sleep guidelines because of an existing acute or chronic sleep disorder.
Keywords: Aging and sleep, Apnea, Sleep disorders, Sleep hygiene, Sleep
research, Sleep stages.
