{"id":1012,"date":"2021-08-10T11:54:30","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T18:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caminoent.com\/?p=1012"},"modified":"2021-10-26T11:54:59","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T18:54:59","slug":"are-some-people-naturally-short-sleepers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caminoent.com\/are-some-people-naturally-short-sleepers\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Some People Naturally Short Sleepers?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Most of us require between seven and nine hours of sleep each night in order to function the following day. But some people are naturally short sleepers and can function just fine with fewer than six hours of sleep per night. This is a condition known as short sleeper syndrome (SSS).<\/p>\n
Though people with SSS get less sleep, it\u2019s not because they are intentionally restricting or avoiding sleep. In fact, their sleep pattern tends to stay the same whether it\u2019s a weekday, weekend or holiday. They also don\u2019t feel the need to take naps or \u201ccatch up\u201d on sleep.<\/p>\n
Symptoms usually present in childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood.<\/p>\n
Evidence suggests that SSS is likely associated with a gene mutation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh published a study<\/a> on possible SSS gene mutations in the journal Sleep <\/em>in 2014.<\/p>\n For the study, the researchers compared identical twins; one carried an SSS gene mutation and one did not. Both twins performed cognitive tasks after getting the same amount of sleep the night before. The twin with the SSS gene mutation outperformed their sibling on these tasks.<\/p>\n Researchers hypothesize that there may be multiple genes\/mutations that contribute to SSS.<\/p>\n There are a few methods a sleep doctor may use to diagnose SSS:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re diagnosed with SSS, you don\u2019t require any further testing or treatment since symptoms don\u2019t interfere with your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n Though the sleep pattern associated with SSS is unusual, it is not considered a sleep disorder<\/a> since mood, cognition and the ability to function at work and school are not affected.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re getting less than six hours of sleep each night consider whether you have any of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it\u2019s important to be evaluated by a sleep expert.<\/p>\n For more information or to schedule an appointment<\/a>, call Camino Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic today.<\/p>\nDiagnosing Short Sleeper Syndrome<\/h2>\n
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Do You Have SSS or a Sleep Disorder?<\/h2>\n
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