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Too little, too much -

We are often reminded of the dangers of getting too little sleep. But are you aware that sleeping too much also has its risks?

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Normal and healthy average -

According to the National Sleep Foundation, seven to nine hours is the normal and healthy amount of sleep for most adults between 18 and 65 years of age. Over nine hours is considered an excessive or long amount of sleep for adults.

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Hypersomnia -

Oversleeping is called hypersomnia, or "long sleeping." It's a condition in which you feel excessive sleepiness during the day and may occur even after long periods of sleep.

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10 to 12 hours of sleep -

Hypersomnia is uncommon, with men at a slightly higher rate of having it than women. People with this condition sometimes require as much as 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night to feel their best.

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Irritable and restless? -

The disorder can leave sufferers feeling unrefreshed and feeling sleepy throughout the day.

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An excuse to lie in -

During weekends and days off, those with hypersomnia may sleep as much as 15 hours at a time.

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Alarming problem -

Long sleepers often find it difficult to wake up to alarm clocks. They may also be difficult to wake by others.

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Pediatric hypersomnia -

Hypersomnia typically starts in childhood. However, the condition is difficult to detect in kids because they routinely sleep more than adults. The main symptom of pediatric hypersomnia is excessive drowsiness, with toddlers often sleeping for 10 or more hours at night.

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The health impact of oversleeping -

Lifestyle factors can play a part in whether or not you're prone to hypersomnia. If you don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, your body may try to make up for it by oversleeping. However, several trends have emerged linking oversleeping with higher rates of mortality and disease as well as things like depression.

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Thyroid issues -

Research links a number of health conditions that might cause you to oversleep. These include thyroid issues. An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause sleep problems. The disorder overstimulates the nervous system, making it hard to fall asleep. Similarly, when the thyroid gland is underactive, the lack of thyroid hormone can result in the body slowing down, making you feel tired more easily. The part or whole removal of the thyroid gland can result in fatigue or sluggishness, among other side effects.

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Heart disease -

While good sleep is essential for a healthy heart, medical issues associated with chronically oversleeping include heart disease, according to a 2018 study.

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Sleep apnea -

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Warning signs of the condition include loud or frequent snoring, unrefreshing sleep, and daytime sleepiness or fatigue. If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor immediately. Treatment can ease your symptoms and might help prevent heart problems and other complications.

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Impairment of cognitive functions -

According to Psychology Today, too much sleep can impair cognitive functions. Those having a chronic "sleep debt" are associated with longer and more intense sleep inertia, which has been shown to produce impairments in high-level cognitive domains, like decision making.

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Depression -

Excessive sleepiness not only affects your physical health, but has a big impact on your mental health as well. If you suffer from depression, you're more likely to oversleep than those who don't.

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Too much alcohol -

Drinking too much can induce oversleeping. Knocking back alcohol too frequently and too close to bedtime can disrupt circadian sleep-wake rhythms and undermine high-quality sleep, leading to a need to oversleep.

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Risk of diabetes -

Extreme daytime sleepiness may be a diabetes sign. Too little sleep—or too much—can be tied to problems with blood sugar levels, not just in people with diabetes but also in people at high risk for developing the disease, a 2019 study suggests. If in doubt, get your levels checked.

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Oversleeping can promote pain -

If you suffer from back pain, sleeping too long can exacerbate your symptoms. Lying down for extended periods of time —especially in an awkward position—causes muscle stiffness, and increases pain and discomfort.

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Male fertility problems -

Sleeping too much, as well as not sleeping enough, are both associated with male fertility problems. Male fertility is linked to the sleep-wake cycle. If disrupted, men in this category are less likely to conceive with their partner.

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Female fertility problems -

According to a report published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, sleep and sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized as determinants of women’s health and well-being, particularly in the context of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

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Overweight -

Even if you don’t have a sleep disorder, regularly oversleeping may have a negative impact on your health. For example, there is sometimes a correlation between sleeping a lot and being obese, though it isn’t necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship. People who sleep for long periods of time may suffer from depression, cancer, or other issues that can also lead to obesity.

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Increased stroke risk -

Oversleeping and frequent naps could increase stroke risk by 85%, according to Science Focus. People who sleep more than nine hours at night or who regularly nap for longer than 90 minutes are up to a quarter more likely to have a stroke than those who get less shut-eye.

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Higher all-cause mortality risk -

Given other associated health issues like obesity, heart disease, and stroke, longer-than-normal sleeping is linked with a higher risk of death in general.

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Sleep fragmentation -

Somewhat paradoxically, oversleeping can result in what's known as sleep fragmentation, a term used to to describe parameters such as wakefulness after sleep onset and reduced sleep efficiency.

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Lack of enthusiasm -

Spending a lot of time in bed can induce a lack of motivation and runs the risk of allowing less time to indulge in beneficial challenges such as exercise.

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Oversleeping and introverted personality -

It's been suggested that long sleeping is connected with introverted personality types. Introverts tend to be more quiet and shy. They crave alone time in order to "recharge" from daily life. But here's the rub: introverts are less likely to experience quality sleep than extroverts. Furthermore, introverts generally report less energy and alertness during the day, and less consistency in sleeping through the night—disturbed sleep patterns they make up for later in the day, on days off, and during weekends.

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Narcolepsy -

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People suffering from the condition often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. There is no cure for narcolepsy. However, medications and lifestyle changes can help sufferers manage the symptoms.

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How is oversleeping diagnosed? -

If your sleepiness symptoms are becoming an issue, it's time to check in with your doctor. But first you may want to rate your sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

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Keep a sleep diary -

It's a good idea to record your sleeping habits in a journal, like when you fall asleep, when you wake, and how often you wake. This way your doctor can look for sleep amounts and patterns. Compile details for a week or so before booking an appointment.

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Take a polysomnography -

At some point, you may want to consider staying overnight in a sleep center attached to a monitor that will measure brain activity, eye movement, leg movement, heart rate, and more. This is called a polysomnography, a sleep study test used to diagnose sleep disorders.

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Adopt a sleep schedule -

Tips for better sleep include going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. It'll be difficult at first, but the idea is to condition your body to expect sleep during that time, eventually getting into a rhythm where sleep comes more easily and is less prolonged.

See also: Celebrity secrets for a good night's sleep.

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