Sleep fact file

About one-third of our lives are spent sleeping, but very little is really known about it. We sleep in different stages. These range from light sleep, with periods of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) in between, during which we dream. The connection between REM sleep and dreaming was discovered in 1953. It usually begins about 90 minutes after falling asleep and occurs in bursts, totaling about two hours a night, or 20% of your total sleep time. New born babies can sleep for up to 21 hours out of 24. Children and teenagers need approximately 10 hours of sleep a night, while most adults need only 7-9 hours. Those over 65 need the least of all – about six hours. Older people also have deep sleep and less REM sleep than young people. Trains have a “dead man’s handle”, which must be held at all times. If the driver falls asleep and loses his grip, the train stops.