Gina Johnson
While getting a good night's sleep is essential for health, oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including an increased risk of death. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and regularly sleeping for more than nine hours is considered oversleeping. Oversleeping can be linked to underlying health issues such as depression, sleep disorders, or chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It can also cause daytime grogginess, headaches, and back pain. If you find yourself consistently oversleeping, it may be a sign to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying conditions and ensure your overall health and well-being.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hours slept per night | More than 9 hours |
| Occurrence | Regularly |
| Possible causes | Sleep disorders, chronic illnesses, depression, medication, alcohol, old age, strenuous activity, travel, stress, illness, low socioeconomic status, diabetes, obesity, headaches, heart disease, increased risk of death |
| Complications | Temporary anxiety, fogginess, low energy, daytime grogginess, increased risk for certain health problems |
| Suggested actions | Consult a doctor, modify treatment plan, get support, sleep study, yoga, drinking water, eating food, splashing water on face, physical activity |
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What You'll Learn
Potential causes: depression, medication, or substance use
Oversleeping, or "long sleeping", can be a symptom of underlying health conditions, such as depression. Sleep disturbances are a core symptom of depression, with clinical and epidemiological studies extensively describing symptoms of disturbed night-time sleep in people with depression. Sleep difficulties may manifest as trouble initiating or maintaining sleep, early morning wakening, or insomnia. In fact, insomnia may be a separate condition or a symptom of depression.
There is a strong association between sleep disturbances and depression, with sleep difficulties creating difficulties in regulating emotions, leaving individuals more vulnerable to depression in the future. Furthermore, individuals with insomnia are at an increased risk of developing depression, with one study finding that 14% of individuals with insomnia developed major depression a year later. Depression is also associated with a reduction in the amount of restorative slow-wave sleep, which can be further exacerbated by daily stresses, leading to more nighttime wake-ups and trouble falling back asleep.
Substance use or withdrawal can also contribute to oversleeping. Sleep abnormalities are associated with the acute and chronic use of addictive substances, including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids. Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can lead to sleep problems, with individuals in recovery from substance use disorders being more likely to experience insomnia. Additionally, certain medications can cause excessive sleepiness and oversleeping as side effects. For example, beta-blockers can decrease the body's natural levels of melatonin, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. Decongestants and steroids can also be stimulating, raising heart rate and blood pressure, and potentially causing insomnia.
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Health risks: diabetes, obesity, headaches
While the exact amount of sleep required varies from person to person, most adults require seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Sleeping more than nine hours is considered oversleeping and can be linked to underlying health issues such as depression, sleep disorders, or chronic illnesses.
Diabetes
Studies have shown that sleeping too much can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Sleep deprivation can cause an imbalance in the hormones that regulate appetite, namely ghrelin and leptin. Leptin helps you feel full, while ghrelin makes you feel hungry. When you do not get enough sleep, your leptin levels decrease, causing you to feel hungrier and leading to excessive eating and weight gain. This can result in an elevated risk of diabetes.
Obesity
Sleeping too much or too little can contribute to obesity. A study revealed that individuals sleeping nine to ten hours per night were 21% more likely to become obese over a six-year period than those sleeping seven to eight hours. This link between sleep and obesity remained even when food intake and exercise were considered.
Headaches
Oversleeping can also cause headaches in some people. For those prone to headaches, sleeping longer than usual on weekends or vacations can trigger head pain. Additionally, people who sleep too much during the day and disrupt their nighttime sleep may experience morning headaches.
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Increased risk of death
While sleeping more than usual occasionally isn't usually a cause for concern, consistently sleeping too much can indicate underlying health issues. Multiple studies have found that sleeping nine or more hours a night is associated with a higher death rate. This correlation has no specific explanation, but researchers have identified factors that could be related.
Depression and low socioeconomic status are associated with longer sleep. People with lower socioeconomic status may have less access to healthcare and more undiagnosed illnesses, such as heart disease, which may cause oversleeping. Additionally, substances like alcohol and certain prescription medications can affect sleep patterns and contribute to sleeping excessively. If you suspect your medication is making you sleep too much, consult your doctor before making any changes. They may adjust your dosage or recommend alternative treatments.
Another factor to consider is age. While sleep needs can vary, most adults consistently need the same amount of sleep throughout their adult years. If you find yourself regularly sleeping more than nine hours and still feeling tired, it could indicate an underlying medical condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, or depression. Hypersomnia, a condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness, can also lead to sleeping longer than usual (11 hours or more) and difficulty staying awake during the day.
If you consistently sleep longer than the recommended seven to nine hours for adults and still feel tired, it's important to consult a healthcare professional. They can help identify any underlying causes and recommend appropriate treatments or lifestyle changes.
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$62
Sleep disorders: hypersomnia, narcolepsy
Oversleeping or hypersomnia and narcolepsy are sleep disorders that make it difficult to stay awake during the day. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, but regularly sleeping more than nine hours is considered oversleeping and could indicate an underlying health issue. Oversleeping has been linked to an increased risk of death, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression.
Hypersomnia and narcolepsy are central disorders of hypersomnolence, characterised by excessive sleepiness or a strong urge to fall asleep during the day. Hypersomnia is a symptom of narcolepsy, and it can be caused by an underlying condition that affects the sleep-wake cycle, such as narcolepsy, Kleine-Levin syndrome, or sleep apnea. It can also be caused by medications, head injuries, or other health conditions. Narcolepsy is a specific neurological disorder that causes sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness at any time, and it can be triggered by factors such as head injury, long-term sleep loss, strep throat, or viral infections. It can also have a genetic component.
Narcolepsy is divided into two types. Type 1 is characterised by excessive sleepiness or an overwhelming need to sleep during the day for three or more months. Type 2 does not involve low hypocretin levels, so hypocretin measurement is not useful for diagnosis. To diagnose narcolepsy and hypersomnia, doctors may use a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) to measure excessive sleepiness and REM sleep. They may also employ a maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) to assess the risk of accidents due to sleepiness.
Treatments for hypersomnia and narcolepsy include medications that promote wakefulness, such as the non-stimulant Modafinil (Provigil). Stimulants like dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) may also be prescribed but can be addictive and cause side effects. Lifestyle changes and addressing underlying causes can also help manage these conditions.
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When to seek help: consistent fatigue, daytime sleepiness
Excessive daytime sleepiness, or hypersomnia, is a common issue that affects around 20% of the population. It can have a variety of causes, including sleep deprivation, sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy), medications, and medical or psychiatric conditions. Hypersomnia can significantly impact your daily life, making it difficult to stay awake during the day and potentially affecting your work, social life, and personal relationships.
If you are experiencing consistent fatigue and daytime sleepiness, it is important to seek help. Start by talking to a healthcare provider, such as your primary care physician. They will evaluate your symptoms and may refer you to a sleep specialist or a mental health professional, depending on the suspected cause. Be prepared to discuss your sleep habits, lifestyle, medications, physical health, and emotional state during your appointment.
It is important to identify and address the underlying cause of your excessive daytime sleepiness. Treatment options may include medications to help you stay awake, improving your sleep habits and hygiene, therapy, or treating any underlying conditions. For example, if you have secondary hypersomnia due to a health condition or substance use, your provider will focus on managing that cause.
In addition to seeking professional help, it can be helpful to talk to your family and friends about your excessive daytime sleepiness. This way, they can understand what you are going through and provide support. If you are diagnosed with hypersomnia, you may also need to notify relevant authorities, such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), as it may impact your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.
Remember, hypersomnia is more than just feeling tired after a long day or wishing for a midday nap. If you find yourself unable to control when you feel sleepy, frequently falling asleep during the day, or sleeping much longer than usual (11 hours or more) without feeling rested, it is time to seek professional help.
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Frequently asked questions
Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, so regularly sleeping for more than nine hours is considered oversleeping.
Oversleeping can cause daytime grogginess, headaches, and back pain. It can also increase the risk of certain health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and death.
Oversleeping can be caused by underlying health conditions, such as depression, sleep disorders, chronic illnesses, or heart disease. It can also be caused by substances like alcohol and prescription medications, or by lifestyle factors such as a lack of quality sleep or intense physical activity.
If you are concerned about oversleeping, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional. They can help you identify any underlying health conditions, adjust your medication, or recommend lifestyle changes such as modifying your sleep habits or increasing your physical activity.
If you consistently sleep longer than nine hours and still feel tired during the day, it may indicate an underlying health condition. Other signs include feeling sleepy during the day, having trouble staying awake, and daytime naps not providing any energy boost.
