It’s a fine line between too much and too little sleep. Too little can have negative impacts on your emotional health and physical wellbeing, but too much can have equally dire consequences.
Just Right…
Chances are the amount of sleep you need will vary throughout your lifetime and depending on your individual needs, but ideally an adult should have between about seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night. Any less than that and you run the risk of heart disease, depression and poor concentration; but if you sleep more than nine hours, the results are remarkably similar.
Here’s a look at just some of the negative effects of oversleeping.
The Toll
Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, headaches and back pain have all been linked to oversleeping. It’s important to note oversleeping may actually be a symptom of an underlying condition, so if you find yourself requiring more than the average amount of shut-eye, it’s worth getting checked.
1. Diabetes
A Canadian study found that people who slept more than eight hours each night were more than twice as likely to get type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance over a six-year period as people with a normal sleep routine.
2. Heart Disease
Over-sleepers have two times the incidence of angina and more probability of coronary heart disease than people who sleep between seven and eight hours.
3. Headaches
If you’re prone to headaches, a good lie down may not be the answer, research indicates. In fact, oversleeping may lead to headaches and waking up feeling groggy in the morning. It’s a phenomenon called ‘sleep drunkenness’.
4. Obesity
Like undersleeping, oversleeping has a consistent link with obesity, with figures indicating people who oversleep have a 21% higher risk of obesity than people who sleep between seven and eight hours each night. By sleeping more, you also give the body less time to be active.
5. Back Pain
It may seem counterintuitive, but contrary to retreating to bed with back pain, the condition should be managed with exercise. Oversleeping and lying around for extended periods can also actually cause back pain.
6. Depression
It’s a bit of a chicken and egg debate, but research also shows people who oversleep are more likely to suffer depression. In fact, 15% of people who suffer depression tend to oversleep. Unfortunately, oversleeping is actually a symptom of depression and anxiety, as is not getting enough sleep. But spending extra hours in bed is unlikely to alleviate the condition. According to experts, creating a regular routine, with sufficient but not too much sleep, is critical to the recovery process.
The key to a good sleep is environment, routine and a lack of stimulants to help ensure the rest you do get is rejuvenating. So in the interests of your health, make sure you focus on getting the right amount of sleep in a restful environment with the right mattress. You can check out websites like Sleepy’s to assist in finding the mattress that’s right for you. Then look forward to getting enough (and not too much) of a good thing!
