We know all too well that the stress of today’s intensely competitive and fast-paced life has caused many people to suffer from lack of sleep. Getting too little sleep can lead to adverse health conditions, but did you know that getting too much sleep has its fair share of health risks, too?
Sleep is a topic that has been researched deeply, and one thing is conclusive: sleep is the time we give our body to repair and restore itself. When we deprive our body of sleep, it can cause many health complications. Therefore, the more, the merrier, right? Well, not in the matter of sleep.
Extensive research shows excessive sleeping time is also linked to several health issues. This poses the question:
How Much Sleeping Is Oversleeping?
The number of hours of sleep an adult should ideally get a day is typically eight. Again, this can vary according to age, environment, and socio-demographic characteristics. However, the gold standard median benchmark is eight hours of sleep daily. Anything over nine hours will be considered excessive sleep for adults if done regularly.
If you fall under this category, you should evaluate your sleep quality. Remember, your body requires deep restorative sleep, and if it does not happen during the eight hours of recommended sleep, your body will attempt to lengthen the sleep period to get the quality of sleep it needs. Think about what is causing this poor sleep quality. Is it medications, an uncomfortable bed, lights, noises, sleep disorders, or comorbid conditions like chronic pain or depression?
How Can Oversleeping Affect The Body?
It Affects Mental Health and Brain Functioning
During sleep, the brain clears waste byproducts and balances neurotransmitters while processing memories. So, when you get prolonged sleep, it can affect your mood and mental health. Here’s how:
Research indicates that cognitive performance peaked when people slept about seven hours and worsened with more or less rest. Studies also show that those who oversleep have decreased mental function and memory impairments.
Getting too little or too much sleep increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and oversleepers are at a greater risk of developing dementia.
Many people who suffer from depression report insomnia, while about 15% of people tend to oversleep. Oversleepers are more likely to have persistent depression and worse overall mental health. Moreover, irregularities in the body’s sleep clock play a role in aggravating depressive symptoms, which is why returning to a healthy sleeping pattern is generally a focus of treatment.
Higher Risk of Heart Diseases
A study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that people who slept for more than eight hours every night were twice as likely to have angina chest pain (which is caused by reduced blood flow) and were more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease.
Can Contribute To Inflammation
Chronic inflammation of the body increases the risk of many health conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes to heart diseases and much more. Among many lifestyle factors like infections, smoking, and being overweight, getting too much sleep can also play a role.
According to one study, CRP (C-reactive protein) levels were elevated among long-sleeping adults. CRP is a systemic marker of low-grade inflammation, and this biomarker is also associated with sleep duration.
Hinders Glucose Tolerance
Glucose tolerance is the body’s ability to process sugars. Those who have impaired glucose tolerance have insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Studies show that people with short or long sleep durations are more likely to develop impaired glucose tolerance.
Worsens Pain
Getting more sleep and rest is generally considered relieving when you’re in pain. However, research shows that getting too much rest can sometimes aggravate symptoms. In fact, people who suffer from back pain often find their pain to worsen when they spend too much time in bed.
Moreover, oversleeping can also increase headaches and trigger migraine and tension headaches.
Can Impair Fertility
A specific study showed that women who slept seven to eight hours daily had the best chances of conceiving. Moderate sleepers had the highest pregnancy rates, and oversleeping outside of the normal range can affect circadian cycles and cause hormonal imbalances, which can impair fertility.
Higher Risk of Stroke
A study conducted by the University of Cambridge examined data over a period of 11 years. At the end of the study, it was understood that people who had a longer sleep duration were four times more likely to suffer from a stroke than people who got the recommended hours of sleep a day. This suggests that longer sleep can be a warning sign of stroke.
Bottom Line
Leading a healthy life is what every person wants. While we often tend to be concerned about enhancing our health and lifestyle, we overlook simple matters like sleeping. If you’re worried about your oversleeping patterns, you should talk to your doctor or discipline yourself to maintain healthy sleeping habits. There are many ways you can do this.
For example, you can start by setting a sleep schedule by ensuring that you go to bed and wake up simultaneously every day. If you struggle with falling asleep, you can create a bedtime routine to prepare for sleep. You can do this by avoiding any devices a few hours before bedtime because this light can delay sleep onset.
At the same time, be active throughout the day and exercise daily to sleep well at night. Avoid late afternoon naps whenever possible because they are an important factor that makes it difficult to fall asleep on time at night.
