How long does it take you to slip into dreamland once your head hits the pillow? For some it’s so fast, it’s almost instantly, while others lie awake so long they wonder if they’ll ever start snoozing. And it turns out, the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep - known as “sleep latency” - can reveal some insights into your health.
While it varies from person to person, the National Sleep Foundation suggests it should take a healthy person about 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. But some of us take much longer than that and others take much less time, and here’s what that says about your health, according to sleep experts.
Falling asleep fast - Starting to snooze minutes after going to bed may seem like a dream come true for some of us, but neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Dave Rabin warns it could be a sign of:
- Exhaustion or burnout
- That we’re overworking ourselves and not taking enough time to rest and recover.
- Drifting off within minutes could also indicate what experts call “junk sleep,” poor quality rest, or even sleep apnea, which around 39-million Americans have.
Falling asleep slowly - Struggling to fall asleep can be a symptom of:
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain
- Or a psychological or medical condition.
- People who take a long time to start snoozing are often anxious, but they may also have an inconsistent bedtime, poor sleep habits, work non-traditional shifts, depression or an uncomfortable sleep environment.
- Stress can also be the culprit, as Rabin explains, “Pretty much every mental illness often starts with difficulty falling asleep.”
- That doesn’t mean that you have a mental illness if it takes you a long time to fall asleep, but he says it’s a sign the body is struggling with something.
Read the article at NY Post