Anyone can need a little extra sleep sometimes. However, if you’re constantly getting more than nine hours of sleep per night or you feel exhausted after getting your ideal hours of sleep, something else might be going on. While oversleeping is not a condition, it can be a sign of other chronic illnesses. Additionally, sleeping too much can significantly affect your overall health. Here’s what you need to know to have the right sleeping habits.
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What Happens When You Sleep Too Much
The first thing you need to establish is how much sleep you need. For most people between the ages of 18 and 65, seven to nine hours of sleep per night will be ideal. If you’re pregnant, though, this number may vary.
Your doctor is the best person to guide you on what your specific needs are. If you’re going over that number consistently, you can develop a few chronic issues over time.
According to recent research, oversleeping can affect how well the brain processes information so you’ll see issues with cognition, brain function, and memory. You may also become more prone to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Interestingly, sleeping longer can impact your sensitivity to pain so it will be a terrible consequence for those who are already dealing with chronic pain. Similarly to too little sleep, those who sleep too much can have trouble maintaining a healthy weight.
Finally, oversleeping can increase your risk of developing several chronic illnesses or make them worse if you have them.
The list includes diabetes, chronic inflammation, heart disease, and stroke. There is also evidence that you may experience impaired fertility.
Factors That Can Cause Oversleeping
Before you can deal with your oversleeping, it’s important to know what’s causing it. As mentioned before, sleeping too much is only a symptom of a greater issue. In many cases, it can be the result of the medications you’re taking, a neurological disorder, a physical illness, or a sleep disorder. When you tell your doctor that you’re concerned about the amount of sleep you’re getting, they’ll likely want to carry out certain tests. That’s because some conditions are associated with sleep issues.
These conditions include:
- Sleep apnea
- Narcolepsy
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Hypothyroidism
- Grinding teeth
- Clenching jaw
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Restless leg syndrome
Note that this list is far from exhaustive, so don’t be surprised if your doctor requests some tests that you weren’t expecting. The key is to