5 Ways Oversleeping Can Harm You

Oversleeping is a topic that is not addressed very often. Many may not even regard it as a thing of concern. If you are wondering, “Is it possible to oversleep?”. The answer is simple- yes. 

Sleep has numerous health benefits, but it could also harm the body if done excessively. 

This article briefly discusses 5 adverse effects oversleeping can have on the body. 

5 Ways Oversleeping Can Harm You

Health Effects of Oversleeping

In addition to the productive hours lost in dreamland, too much sleep can cause real harm to your body in the following ways.

Oversleeping can make you tired.

It is logical to expect that the more you sleep, the more refreshed and energized you should feel. However, the reverse is the case. People often report headaches, feeling drowsy, or tired after an unusually long sleep session- a feeling similar to an alcohol hangover. 

Harvard Medical explains that this tiredness happens because sleeping for too long can disrupt your internal biological clock (circadian rhythm) and result in undue fatigue during waking hours. 

oversleeping

Oversleeping can cause obesity.

Both recent and older studies have established a link between oversleeping and the likelihood of gaining excessive body fat.

If you are on a weight loss journey, paying attention to your sleeping hours is essential.

Too much sleep can increase your risk of diabetes.

In addition to the increased tendency to obesity, oversleeping is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus. 

Oversleeping may cause coronary heart disease.

Although researchers have not yet understood the exact reason for this, studies have shown a recurrent link between oversleeping and poor cardiac health. 

Too much sleep can increase the risk of dying young

As a result of the association between long sleep duration and diabetes and heart disease, ‘oversleepers’ may be shortening their lifespans. One study at the University of Warwick, UK, concluded that “both short and long duration of sleep are significant predictors of death.”  

Getting the right amount of sleep is paramount. 

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the body requires different amounts of sleep for optimal functioning, and this amount varies with age groups.

AGE CATEGORYAGE RANGEOPTIMAL HOURS OF SLEEP (per day)
Newborn0-3 months14-17
Infant4-11 months12-15
Toddler1-2 years11-14
Preschooler3-5 years10-13
School-age6-13 years9-11
Teenager14-17 years8-10
Young Adult18-25 years7-9
Adult26-64 years7-9
Older Adult≥65 years7-8

Constantly getting less or more sleep than is required is detrimental to health.

A young adult that sleeps for more than 9 hours daily is oversleeping.

Contrary to common beliefs, older adults (the elderly) don’t need more sleep than children and young adults.

Why Do People Oversleep?

Here are some reasons why people sleep for longer than necessary.

Compensation for prolonged sleep debt

Your oversleeping may indicate that your body is trying to catch up because you have starved it of adequate sleep for some time.

Circadian recalibration

If you recently traveled to a region with a different time zone, your natural sleep-wake clock may be temporarily destabilized. So you may find yourself sleeping for longer hours than usual until your body adjusts.

Poor Sleep

Ironically, poor sleep can make you sleep too much. If your quality of sleep keeps getting disrupted, you will need more hours to make up for the lost time, and this will result in oversleeping.

One of the commonest causes of poor sleep in adults is sleep apnea which causes sudden and repeated cessation of breathing several times per night. It is commoner in obese people. In children, sleep apnea can be caused by enlarged adenoids or tonsils, which may obstruct the airway.  

Nocturia (waking up several times at night to urinate) can also cause poor sleep. It can frequently happen in older men with an enlarged prostate gland. 

Mental illness

Oversleeping may be a sign of depression or anxiety. Such individuals may use sleep as an escape from their mental health struggles.

Hypothyroidism

Low levels of thyroid hormone may also lead to oversleeping

Drugs and alcohol

Taking too much alcohol can make you sleep for longer hours than usual. Sleeping pills may also make you oversleep.

How To Stop Oversleeping

We suggest the following tips to curb oversleeping:

Maintain good sleep hygiene by

  • Sleeping in a cool, dark, quiet room with comfortable bedding.
  • Retraining yourself to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.

Good sleep hygiene will help improve your overall quality of sleep and make you wake up refreshed. When you feel well-rested, your body will not crave for additional hours in dreamland.

Address any medical condition that affects your sleep

Seek treatment for sleep apnea, nocturia, coughs that disturb your sleep, etc.

Good lifestyle habits

  • Avoid exercising too close to bedtime
  • Avoid drinking too much water close to bedtime to reduce your frequency of night urination.

A WORD FROM HEALTHFACTS

Sleep is vital for good health, but it can be harmful when inadequate or excessive. Pay attention to your health and avoid oversleeping as much as possible.

42 COMMENTS

  1. İstanbul Kablo Hurdası Alanlar İstanbul un en iyi hurdacısı ile daha kârlı bir ticaret diliyoruz. Ptt kablo içi deşe hurdaları, hurda telefon kablolar, yağlı içli ptt kablosu hurdası, ptt kabloları satmayı isteyenler şimdi arayın.

  2. My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on numerous websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform. I have heard great things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any kind of help would be really appreciated!

  3. I have observed that costs for on-line degree specialists tend to be an awesome value. For example a full Bachelors Degree in Communication in the University of Phoenix Online consists of 60 credits at $515/credit or $30,900. Also American Intercontinental University Online offers a Bachelors of Business Administration with a full school feature of 180 units and a worth of $30,560. Online degree learning has made getting the degree much simpler because you might earn your current degree in the comfort of your abode and when you finish working. Thanks for all other tips I’ve learned through your web site.

  4. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

  5. I have learned new things as a result of your blog. One other thing I would really like to say is that newer pc operating systems usually allow much more memory to get used, but they furthermore demand more storage simply to run. If a person’s computer is unable to handle much more memory and the newest software package requires that memory space increase, it is usually the time to buy a new Laptop or computer. Thanks

  6. certainly like your web site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I?ll definitely come back again.

  7. Thanks for your posting. What I want to comment on is that when looking for a good internet electronics shop, look for a web-site with entire information on critical indicators such as the level of privacy statement, basic safety details, payment procedures, along with other terms and policies. Often take time to read the help as well as FAQ segments to get a greater idea of what sort of shop operates, what they can perform for you, and just how you can make best use of the features.

  8. Thanks for these guidelines. One thing I additionally believe is that credit cards giving a 0 interest often attract consumers with zero monthly interest, instant endorsement and easy on-line balance transfers, nevertheless beware of the number one factor that will certainly void your 0 easy neighborhood annual percentage rate and throw anybody out into the terrible house rapidly.

  9. Also I believe that mesothelioma cancer is a exceptional form of cancer malignancy that is usually found in all those previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous tissue form inside mesothelium, which is a protective lining which covers the majority of the body’s body organs. These cells generally form inside lining of your lungs, stomach, or the sac that really encircles the heart. Thanks for giving your ideas.

  10. Yet another issue is really that video gaming became one of the all-time largest forms of recreation for people of various age groups. Kids have fun with video games, and also adults do, too. The XBox 360 is one of the favorite gaming systems for folks who love to have a huge variety of video games available to them, and who like to play live with people all over the world. Thank you for sharing your thinking.

  11. Can I simply say what a reduction to search out someone who really is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know tips on how to convey a difficulty to gentle and make it important. Extra people have to read this and perceive this side of the story. I cant believe youre no more common since you definitely have the gift.

  12. I?ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i am happy to express that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much without a doubt will make certain to don?t overlook this site and give it a glance regularly.

  13. wonderful submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!

  14. Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!

  15. Thanks for your ideas. One thing really noticed is the fact banks in addition to financial institutions really know the spending habits of consumers and as well understand that many people max out their cards around the getaways. They correctly take advantage of this specific fact and start flooding your own inbox along with snail-mail box with hundreds of Zero APR card offers right after the holiday season comes to an end. Knowing that should you be like 98 of all American open public, you’ll hop at the one opportunity to consolidate consumer credit card debt and switch balances to 0 APR credit cards.

  16. Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, superb blog!

  17. Thanks alot : ) for your post. I’d really like to comment that the price of car insurance differs from one insurance plan to another, simply because there are so many different facets which give rise to the overall cost. Such as, the model and make of the auto will have a significant bearing on the price. A reliable older family automobile will have a lower priced premium when compared to a flashy expensive car.

  18. I have really learned new things via your site. One other thing I’d like to say is the fact newer pc os’s are inclined to allow more memory to be played with, but they furthermore demand more storage simply to function. If someone’s computer cannot handle additional memory and the newest application requires that memory space increase, it is usually the time to shop for a new Computer system. Thanks

  19. The things i have always told folks is that while looking for a good internet electronics retail outlet, there are a few issues that you have to factor in. First and foremost, you would like to make sure to locate a reputable along with reliable shop that has received great reviews and rankings from other people and industry experts. This will ensure you are handling a well-known store that can offer good service and support to the patrons. Many thanks sharing your opinions on this website.

  20. After examine just a few of the blog posts in your web site now, and I actually like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website checklist and shall be checking again soon. Pls check out my website as nicely and let me know what you think.

  21. Interesting article. It is rather unfortunate that over the last years, the travel industry has already been able to to tackle terrorism, SARS, tsunamis, bird flu virus, swine flu, as well as the first ever entire global tough economy. Through it the industry has really proven to be robust, resilient in addition to dynamic, getting new methods to deal with adversity. There are often fresh challenges and the possiblility to which the business must yet again adapt and act in response.

  22. I’m in awe of the author’s talent to make complex concepts understandable to readers of all backgrounds. This article is a testament to his expertise and commitment to providing useful insights. Thank you, author, for creating such an engaging and illuminating piece. It has been an absolute pleasure to read!

  23. There are definitely a variety of details like that to take into consideration. That is a nice point to bring up. I supply the ideas above as basic inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up the place crucial factor shall be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around issues like that, however I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Each girls and boys feel the impression of only a moment?s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

  24. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really recognise what you are speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please additionally discuss with my website =). We could have a hyperlink alternate arrangement between us!

LEAVE A REPLY