Is it possible to have a good thing when it comes to sleep too much? It’s true that getting enough sleep is crucial for good health. But Oversleeping has been linked to many serious consequences. Come, let’s discuss in detail;
What Causes Oversleeping?
Oversleeping is most commonly associated with the following underlying health conditions, according to the Sleep Foundation and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Restless leg syndrome
- Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching)
- Chronic pain
- Sleep disorder
- Depression or anxiety
According to a research survey data from more than 116,632 adults from 21 countries, a study published in December 2018 in the European Heart Journal found that sleeping more than six to eight hours per day (including naps) was linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease.
Why Oversleeping Is Risky?
When you are consistently getting less than the recommended amount of sleep then it has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes. Sleeping more than nine hours per night on a regular basis may also be harmful. Oversleeping can lead to:
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Decreased immune function
- Stress response changes
- Increased chance of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity
- Increased risk of death
Side Effects of Oversleeping
Now let’s discuss the side effects of oversleeping;
Obesity
Sleeping too much or too little can also cause you to gain weight. According to a recent study, people who slept for nine or ten hours every night were 21% more likely to become obese over the course of six years than those who slept for seven to eight hours. Even if you take into account of food intake and exercise, the link between sleep and obesity remained the same.
Migraine
Sleeping longer than normal on a weekend or vacation can cause headaches for some people who are prone to them. Oversleeping, according to researchers, has an effect on certain neurotransmitters in the brain which may be including serotonin. And people who sleep too much during the day and wake up with headaches may suffer from headaches in the morning.
Backache
There was a time when doctors advised people with back pain to go straight to bed. Those days, however, are long gone. When you have back pain, you may not even need to modify your regular exercise routine. Consult your physician. Doctors are now aware of the advantages of maintaining a certain level of activity for one’s health. They also advise against sleeping more than usual if at all possible.
Although insomnia Is more commonly associated with depression, about 15% of people with depression sleep excessively. This could exacerbate their depression. This is due to the fact that good sleep habits are essential for recovery.
Diabetes
Too much sleep can raise blood sugar levels (as can skimping on sleep). That’s not the type of sweet dreams you’re looking for: Type 2 diabetes is linked to high blood glucose levels. According to Redline, being more sedentary—and overweight—is likely to be the cause of this risk factor.
Fuzzier Brain
Can’t seem to focus? You can blame it on your time spent between the sheets. According to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, chronic long sleeping can age your brain by up to two years and make it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
According to Irwin, the fact that long sleepers have trouble with basic mental functions could be due to how frequently they wake up during the night. If you wake up too often, you may not be getting enough deep, restorative sleep (try these 7 tricks to fall back asleep in 10 minutes or less.
Heart disease
Nearly 72,000 women took part in the Nurses’ Health Study. Women who took sleep of nine to 11 hours per night were 38 percent more likely than women who slept eight hours to have coronary heart disease, according to a careful analysis of the data from that study. The link between oversleeping and heart disease is still to be discovered by researchers.
Mood Changes
Sleep and relaxation go hand in hand, but it’s a catch-22 situation. People with certain types of depression often sleep longer, according to Irwin. Longer sleep can exacerbate depression. It’s important to remember that feeling down isn’t always permanent, and not everyone who sleeps too much and feels bad is clinically depressed. Shortening your snoozes may be enough to lift your spirits in some cases, according to Irwin.
Death
People who sleep nine or more hours per night have significantly higher death rates than those who sleep seven to eight hours per night, according to multiple studies. There hasn’t been any conclusive evidence as to why there is a link between the two. Researchers discovered, however, that depression and low socioeconomic status are linked to more sleep. These factors, they believe, may be linked to the observed increase in mortality.
What to Do if You Suspect You’ve Been Oversleeping
According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can try to reclaim your sleep by:
- Avoiding the snooze button
- Waking up at the same time nearly every day, including weekends
- Embracing natural light when you first wake up and avoiding it near bedtime
If you’re still oversleeping on a regular basis after making these changes, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Doctors typically use a process of elimination to rule out conditions before determining the underlying problem.
Your doctor will likely begin by performing a physical exam, reviewing medications that may affect sleep, and discussing additional testing, such as blood work. He or she will be interested in learning more about your sleeping habits.
Keep a sleep diary for at least two weeks prior to the appointment, noting how much and how well you sleep. According to doctors, he or they may then refer you to a sleep clinic or recommend that you undergo a sleep study. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a sleep study can help rule out sleep disorders.
Bottom Line
Practicing good sleep hygiene will help you to get the benefits of a healthy seven to eight hours of sleep each night, regardless of the cause of your oversleeping. Experts advise that you stick to the same bedtime and wake-up times every day. Caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime are also recommended. Regular exercise and creating a sleep-friendly environment in your bedroom will assist you in getting the rest you require.
See a psychiatrist for a checkup if you get more than seven or eight hours of sleep per night. The doctor can assist you in determining why you sleep too much. If alcohol or certain prescription medications are causing you to oversleep, reducing or eliminating your use of these substances may help. Never stop taking a prescription medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Similarly, if your oversleeping is caused by a medical condition, treating it may allow you to resume your normal sleeping patterns.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with the top Psychiatrists in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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FAQ’s
Is it safe to sleep for 12 hours every day?
We often say that people need 7-9 hours of sleep to feel rested, but some people need more. Adults sleep 10 to 12 hours per night on average. This is a typical and good-quality night’s sleep. Because of their biological clock, it is simply much longer than most people’s.
Is it better to sleep naked for your health?
Sleeping naked with your partner may help you get a better night’s sleep by lowering your stress and anxiety levels. Adults’ skin-to-skin contact can raise oxytocin levels, the “love hormone.” Increased oxytocin levels can help you feel less stressed. It can also strengthen your bond with your partner.
Why do I enjoy sleeping so much?
You may be suffering from a condition known as clinomania if you are obsessed with sleeping or have an intense desire to stay in bed. That doesn’t rule out the possibility of people experiencing symptoms similar to addiction and even withdrawal as a result of a lack of sleep.
Do people who sleep for a long time live longer?
People who slept less than 5 hours on all nights had a 65% higher death rate than those who slept 6 to 7 hours per night. People who slept an average of 8 hours or more on all nights had a 25% higher mortality rate.
