This isn't the only hazard of sleeping too much...
Parents of
the earlier days (and perhaps some still do so now), especially Chinese
parents, had the tendency to scold their children who get up late or refuse to
get up with a phrase along the lines of “一天到晚睡，睡死你”. Which means you’ll sleep yourself to death
if you sleep all day long.
This is of
course uttered out of frustration, but you know what? There might actually be
some truth in it.
We all know
how important it is to get around 7 – 8 hours of sleep to be healthy and energetic.
But what happens if you sleep more than this recommended number of hours?
For a
regular individual, sleeping more than 9 hours on a frequent basis may be
linked to increased probability of health problems!
Here are
some health problems linked to sleeping too much:
According to a research in Canada, the probability is more than twice as high, compared to those who sleep regular hours (7 to 8 hours)
Greater risk of obesity
It has been indicated in a published journal that people who get more than eight hours of sleep increase their risk of obesity by 21 percent.
It is difficult to maintain the same, recommended position when you’re sleeping. The longer you lie in bed, the more likely you may subject your spinal cord to some unhealthy positions. Additionally, you need to maintain a certain level of activity to keep aches and pains at bay, and sleeping doesn't help with that, especially if you’re pressing down on your spinal cord for long hours.
Headaches
This could be due to disturbances to neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin. Serotonin has been known to play a role in causing migraines. It is also known to worsen depression, which brings us to the next point.
Worsening of depression
According to a study in
Greater risk of heart disease
According to a research done at the
Earlier onset of Alzheimer’s disease
Research deduced that extreme
sleep durations and changes in the duration could lead to early decline in
cognitive functions.
Premature death
People who sleep nine or more
hours a night have a higher premature death rate than those who sleep 7 – 8
hours.
For many of us in
It is also a common conception that old people need more sleep. It may seem that they need more sleep because it is more difficult for them to fall asleep or sleep restfully throughout the night, and because they have less strength and may feel a need to rest more. But like everyone regular teenager and adult, they should only need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day.
Some people may have legitimate reasons for having to sleep long hours each day. There is a medical disorder known as hypersomnia, in which the sufferer experiences extreme sleepiness through the day, and napping doesn’t help. Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may also need more sleep because the disorder, whereby they stop breathing momentarily during sleep, disturbs their normal sleep cycle.
If you’re sleeping longer than 7 – 8 hours and have no reason for it, or have a medical condition that makes your sleep pattern unusual, do be sure to get yourself checked by the doctor! Just as it is important to ensure that you get sufficient sleep, it is also important that you don’t get too much sleep!
Sources:
http://www.businessinsider.com/heath-hazards-of-oversleeping-2012-10?IR=T
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/17/sleep-alzheimers-brain-memory_n_1677754.html
0 comments: