How much sleep do you need?

A person could die from lack of sleep sooner than they could from starvation, and this usually takes a few weeks. Good sleep has an impact on nearly every area of daily life. However, most people don't realize how much sleep they need and why it is so important.
    
    How much sleep do I need?:
Newborns (0-2 months old).....12-18 hours
Infants (3-11 months old)........14-15 Hours
Toddlers (1-3 years old)...........12-14 Hours
Pre-schoolers (3-5 years old)...11-13 Hours
School-aged Children(5-10 years old)....10-11 Hours
Teens (11-17 years old)............8-9 Hours
Adults.........................................7-9 Hours
 *By the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The Benefits of Sleep:
-Sleep reduces stress by lowering stress hormone level and blood pressure.
-Sleep improves your memory by allowing the brain to process new experiences and knowledge better, increasing your understanding and retention.
-Sleep helps to repair your body.
The body produces extra protein molecules while you're sleeping that helps strengthen your ability to fight infections and stay healthy.
-Sleep helps keep your heart healthy.
The cardiovascular system is constantly under pressure and sleep helps reduce this stress, hence helping the heart function better.
....And so on ...So, next time you hear someone say "why don't you sleep on it," take to the advice.

Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.  ~Fran Lebowitz