Evie Summers
Sleep is a vital process that allows the body and brain to rest, repair, and restore. While the amount of sleep needed varies across age groups and individuals, adults generally require seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Sleeping longer than this recommended duration is considered oversleeping and may indicate an underlying health issue. Oversleeping has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other adverse health effects. It can also cause brain fog, poor memory, and sleep drunkenness, impacting daily functioning and overall well-being. Additionally, certain substances, medications, and lifestyle factors can contribute to sleeping a lot, making it essential to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and potential treatment options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Excessive sleepiness during the day | Hypersomnia |
| Difficulty staying awake during the day | Hypersomnia |
| Brain fog | Sleep drunkenness |
| Poor memory | Sleep drunkenness |
| Feeling confused or disoriented upon waking | Sleep drunkenness |
| Increased risk of obesity | 21% more likely over six years |
| Increased risk of cardiometabolic syndrome | |
| Increased risk of stiff arteries | |
| Increased risk of stroke | |
| Increased risk of death from heart disease or stroke | |
| Increased risk of death from any cause | |
| Increased risk of diabetes | |
| Increased risk of heart disease | |
| Increased risk of heart failure | |
| Increased risk of depression | 15% of people with depression sleep too much |
| Increased risk of headaches | |
| Nutrient deficiencies | Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D |
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of obesity
Oversleeping is defined as sleeping for more than nine hours in a 24-hour period. While the amount of sleep a person needs varies, adults are generally recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Sleeping longer than this recommended duration and with poor sleep quality is associated with a greater risk of obesity.
Sleep and metabolism are closely connected. Any disruption to sleep or deviation from the optimal sleep duration can affect the body's hunger hormones. People who frequently feel hungry are more likely to eat more and subsequently gain weight. Poor sleep quality can also disrupt the body's insulin release and glucose processing, impacting metabolism.
Long sleepers tend to experience poor sleep quality due to light sleep or fragmented sleep. This can lead to an increased risk of cardiometabolic syndrome, stiff arteries, and stroke, as well as a higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke.
Hypersomnia is a condition characterised by extreme sleepiness during the day, even after a full night's rest. People with hypersomnia may unintentionally fall asleep multiple times during the day and experience symptoms such as anxiety, low energy, and memory problems. This condition can significantly impact an individual's work, social life, and personal relationships.
If you consistently sleep longer than usual and still feel tired or experience mental fogginess, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional. Excessive sleepiness can be a symptom of underlying health issues, nutrient deficiencies, or side effects of certain medications and substances.
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Poor sleep quality
Sleep-deprived individuals can also experience negative emotions, such as feeling tired, irritable, angry, sad, or depressed. Over time, these emotions can lead to more serious mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Sleep deficiency can also increase the risk of accidents, including car crashes, and raise the likelihood of chronic health problems.
Additionally, poor sleep quality can disrupt the body's release of insulin and processing of glucose, affecting metabolism. This can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of cardiometabolic syndrome, stiff arteries, stroke, or death from heart disease. It is worth noting that sleeping longer hours is often linked to poor sleep quality, and this can further increase the risk of obesity and other health issues.
Hypersomnia, a condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, can also be a result of poor sleep quality. Individuals with hypersomnia may find it hard to stay awake during the day, even after a full night's rest, and may unintentionally fall asleep multiple times. This can significantly impact an individual's work, social life, and personal relationships.
If you are experiencing issues with sleep quality, it is important to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions and to seek appropriate treatment.
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Higher risk of heart disease
While occasional long sleep may be okay, regularly sleeping more than nine hours a night may indicate oversleeping. Oversleeping can be a symptom of underlying conditions like depression, illness, or a sleep disorder. Hypersomnia, a condition characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness, can make it hard to control when you feel sleepy and can impact your work and social life.
Sleeping longer hours is linked to a greater risk of obesity, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease. Poor sleep quality can disrupt how the body releases insulin and processes glucose, impacting metabolism. Oversleeping raises a person's risk of cardiometabolic syndrome, stiff arteries, stroke, or death from heart disease or stroke.
Additionally, sleep disorders and poor sleep quality have been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders can lead to increased inflammation in the body, which can elevate the risk of cardiovascular issues. Poor sleep can also cause or worsen heart conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and heart failure.
Insomnia, for example, is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. It can trigger the body's stress response, which could weaken the heart over time. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also associated with heart failure, as it involves the blockage of airways during sleep, causing stress hormones to be released and raising the chance of heart failure.
If you are experiencing excessive sleepiness or mental fogginess, it is recommended to consult a doctor to address any potential underlying causes and to improve your sleep quality and overall health.
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Hypersomnia
There are two types of hypersomnia: primary and secondary. Primary hypersomnia is of central/brain origin, and can be idiopathic (without a known cause), Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS), or narcolepsy. KLS is very rare, and causes people to sleep for 16-20 hours a day during an episode. Narcolepsy occurs when the brain cannot control sleep or wakefulness. Secondary hypersomnia is caused by another medical condition or issue, such as clinical depression, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, epilepsy, obesity, or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. It can also be caused by substance use, certain medications, or withdrawal from medications. Genetic disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Norrie disease, Niemann-Pick disease, and myotonic dystrophy can also be associated with primary or secondary hypersomnia.
The symptoms of hypersomnia can be frustrating and annoying, and can lead to a lower quality of life. However, treatment is available. This can include medication, changes to sleep habits, and therapy. If you think you might have hypersomnia, you should consult a healthcare professional.
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Nutritional deficiencies
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with malnutrition, especially in older adults. A study found a significant relationship between EDS and malnutrition risk, dysphagia, and vitamin D deficiency in older adults. However, no relationship was found between vitamin B12 deficiency and EDS. Another study found that EDS was associated with increased malnutrition, regardless of age, gender, living status, polypharmacy, dementia, insomnia, and ischemic heart disease.
In addition to nutritional deficiencies, other factors can contribute to oversleeping. These include medications, alcohol consumption, and underlying health conditions. For example, certain drugs, such as sedatives, muscle relaxers, or antipsychotics, can cause hypersomnia as a side effect. Substances like alcohol and cannabis can also disrupt sleep patterns and contribute to sleeping a lot. Furthermore, sleeping longer hours is linked to a greater risk of obesity due to the connection between sleep and metabolism.
If you suspect that your excessive sleep is related to nutritional deficiencies or other underlying causes, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. They can help diagnose and address any potential nutrient deficiencies or health conditions that may be contributing factors.
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Frequently asked questions
Hypersomnia is a condition that makes you feel sleepy during the day, even after a full night's rest. People with hypersomnia may fall asleep several times during the day without meaning to, and may also experience symptoms of anxiety, low energy, and memory problems.
Oversleeping is linked to a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. One study found that people who slept for nine or ten hours a night were 21% more likely to become obese over a six-year period than those who slept between seven and eight hours.
Causes of oversleeping include underlying medical conditions such as depression, heart disease, diabetes, or a sleep disorder. It can also be caused by nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin B12, iron, or vitamin D. Additionally, certain medications, alcohol, and substances like cannabis can contribute to oversleeping.
If you're consistently sleeping longer than nine hours and still feel tired, it's recommended that you consult a doctor. They may suggest a sleep study or refer you to a sleep specialist to determine the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
