Evie Summers
Sleeping too much can be a symptom of underlying health issues. If you're regularly sleeping for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period, it may be a sign of a sleep disorder, a mental health condition, or another medical issue. Oversleeping has been linked to an increased risk of several health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and stroke. It can also lead to negative side effects such as headaches, back pain, and daytime sleepiness, which can impact your daily life and personal relationships. If you're concerned about sleeping too much, it's important to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying conditions and improve your sleep habits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration | More than 9 hours in 24 hours or 7-9 hours per night |
| Daytime sleepiness | Extreme sleepiness during the day, uncontrollable sleepiness, frequent napping |
| Sleep quality | Interrupted sleep, non-restful sleep, difficulty waking up |
| Risk factors | Age, lifestyle, mental and physical health conditions, medication, substance use, sleep disorders |
| Health risks | Increased risk of death, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, headaches, back pain, anxiety |
| Treatment | Consult a healthcare provider, sleep specialist, or mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep disorders
Sleep is critical to both physical and mental health. However, sleeping too much can indicate an underlying health condition. If you are concerned about sleeping too much, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional. Before seeing a doctor, it is recommended to record your sleeping habits in a sleep diary to help them better understand your sleeping patterns.
There are more than 80 different sleep disorders. Some major types include:
- Insomnia — Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It involves problems getting to sleep or staying asleep. To be diagnosed with insomnia disorder, sleep difficulties must occur at least three nights a week for at least three months and cause significant distress or problems at work, school, or other important areas of daily functioning.
- Sleep apnea — A breathing disorder in which you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep.
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS) — RLS is characterised by a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs, along with a powerful urge to move them.
- Hypersomnia — People with hypersomnia are excessively sleepy but also tend to sleep for longer periods. They may fall asleep several times during the day, usually without meaning to. Hypersomnia can affect your ability to go to work or school and can make it hard to maintain relationships with loved ones. It can also increase your risk of accidents and injuries.
- Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders — These disorders are related to misalignments between sleep-wake cycles and light-darkness cycles.
- Parasomnia — Parasomnia involves acting in unusual ways while falling asleep, sleeping, or waking from sleep, such as walking, talking, or eating.
Treatments for sleep disorders depend on the specific disorder. They may include good sleep habits and other lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioural therapy or relaxation techniques, CPAP machines, and medications.
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Underlying health conditions
Oversleeping, or long sleeping, is defined as sleeping for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. While the amount of sleep one needs varies depending on age, activity level, general health, and lifestyle habits, sleeping longer than usual on a consistent basis could indicate an underlying health condition.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression is associated with longer sleep. About 15% of people with depression sleep too much, which may, in turn, worsen their mental health. Anxiety can also make it hard to stay awake for longer.
Sleep Disorders
There are several sleep disorders that can cause oversleeping. These include:
- Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: Misalignments between sleep-wake cycles and light-darkness cycles.
- Hypersomnia: People with hypersomnia feel extremely sleepy during the day, even after a full night's rest. There are several types of hypersomnia, including idiopathic hypersomnia, which is the most common, and Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS), which causes people to sleep for unusually long periods.
- Narcolepsy: People with narcolepsy experience overpowering urges to sleep during the day. There are three types of narcolepsy, and it is a lifelong disorder that can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA causes interruptions in breathing while asleep, leading to snoring or breathing pauses.
- Insomnia: Although insomnia is more commonly associated with a lack of sleep, it can also cause people to sleep too much.
Other Health Conditions
Oversleeping may also be a symptom of other underlying health conditions, including:
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Hypothyroidism
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory infections, such as the flu, a cold, or COVID-19
Substance Use
The use of certain substances can also lead to oversleeping. Alcohol, for example, has sedating effects and can cause excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Additionally, the use of prescription medications, such as sedatives, muscle relaxers, antipsychotics, or stimulants, can result in excessive sleepiness as a side effect or during withdrawal.
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Medication and substance use
Opiates and opioids have been associated with sleep abnormalities, with chronic use potentially leading to sleep disorders. However, opioids have been used to treat certain sleep disorders, such as periodic limb movement (PLMS) and restless leg syndrome. Additionally, opioid medications can improve pain-related sleep disorders, resulting in better sleep quality.
Cannabis use has also been linked to sleep disturbances. Quitting marijuana use can cause sleep problems, typically lasting several days to a few weeks. Cocaine use has been found to delay sleep onset and cause nocturnal sleep disturbances and REM sleep rebound during withdrawal. Acute and chronic use of cocaine can lead to pathological levels of sleepiness and sleep onset rapid eye movement periods (SOREMPs).
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a condition characterized by a problematic pattern of substance use that negatively affects health, well-being, and quality of life. It is a treatable mental health condition. Insomnia is common among individuals with SUD, and the disruption in sleep patterns may contribute to initiating and maintaining substance abuse. Additionally, certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can interfere with sleep, and it is important to consult a doctor if this occurs.
Insomnia drugs can be prescribed to aid with sleep, but they are intended for short-term use and may lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms if used long-term. It is crucial to follow the instructions provided for prescription medications and not exceed the recommended dosage or duration of use.
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Age and lifestyle factors
Lifestyle changes that come with ageing can impact sleep. Retirement, for instance, may lead to a less structured sleep-wake schedule, resulting in a shift in the body's circadian rhythms, known as a phase advance. This can cause older adults to feel tired earlier in the afternoon and wake up earlier in the morning. Social isolation and reduced physical activity, which are common in older adulthood, can also disrupt the normal sleep/wake cycle and contribute to sleep problems.
Medical conditions and medications are other factors that can affect sleep in older adults. Medical issues can cause pain or other symptoms that disrupt sleep. Additionally, certain medications can induce daytime sleepiness, making it challenging to sleep at night, and even worsen underlying sleep disorders. Conditions such as insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are prevalent in older adults and can be influenced by factors like gender, obesity, and sedating medications.
Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy, menopause, and perimenopause, can also disrupt sleep. Symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes can interfere with sleep quality. Women tend to experience insomnia more frequently than men due to these hormonal factors and increased caregiving responsibilities.
Environmental factors, such as living in unsafe neighbourhoods or working shift work, can also contribute to sleep disturbances. These factors can induce anxiety and disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, leading to conditions like insomnia. Additionally, obesity has been linked to poorer sleep quality, with weight loss, especially in the belly area, improving sleep.
In summary, age and lifestyle factors significantly influence sleep patterns and quality. Older adults often experience shifts in their sleep schedules and disruptions due to various physiological, medical, and lifestyle changes. Understanding these factors can help address sleep issues and improve overall sleep health in older adulthood.
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Sleep debt
There are several reasons why you might be accumulating sleep debt. Sleep debt may be caused by underlying health conditions, such as chronic pain, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It could also be caused by environmental factors, such as shift work, or lifestyle factors, such as limited time for sleep due to the nature of your job. Additionally, certain medications and substances, including alcohol, can contribute to sleep debt.
If you are experiencing sleep debt, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. They can help you identify the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan, which may include lifestyle changes, at-home remedies, and medications. Keeping a sleep diary and developing a nighttime routine can also help you manage your sleep debt.
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Frequently asked questions
Oversleeping, or "long sleeping", is when you sleep for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. This could be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, or a sleep disorder. It could also be caused by lifestyle factors, such as working night shifts, or by the use of certain substances, such as alcohol or prescription medications. If you think you are sleeping too much, you should consult a healthcare professional.
Aside from sleeping longer than nine hours a night, other symptoms of oversleeping include feeling tired during the day, falling asleep without meaning to, and having trouble staying awake. Oversleeping can also cause headaches, back pain, and temporary anxiety, fogginess, and low energy.
Before seeing a doctor, it is recommended that you record your sleeping habits in a sleep diary. A doctor may then ask you to continue monitoring your sleeping patterns in a journal or by wearing a wrist actigraph. Treatment for oversleeping depends on the underlying cause and may include a combination of lifestyle changes, at-home remedies, and medications.
