Dear Amanda, Thank you for posting your query on this forum. It is important to have 8 hours of sleep regularly to remain healthy, and definitely not less than 6 hours of sleep. Sleep helps the body heal and restore itself, and sleeping for any 8 hours or more after sunset until sunrise helps our body maintain the circadian rhythm, which is important for hormonal mechanisms that affect aspects such as immunity, metabolism, growth, etc. If your brother frequently catches colds, it could because of decreased sleep and immunity or due to other respiratory problems. You have not mentioned how old he is or whether he has a cough and is bringing up sputum or if he falls sick more often during the winter/cold weather. But, a stabbing pain in the right side of the chest needs to be checked to rule out pneumonia or pleurisy, if accompanied by fever and cough. You should take him to a general practitioner/physician for evaluation of his symptoms, or to the emergency medicine department of a good hospital, and they will examine him and advise you on whether he needs specialist help. Do keep us posted and write in with any other queries you have.