How long does it take you to fall asleep? That amount of time - 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.
Here’s what that says about your health, according to sleep experts:
Falling asleep fast 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 could be a sign 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.
Source: NY Post