While the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation are well known, fewer people understand the health consequences of sleeping too much.
There are many potential causes of oversleeping, such as sleep apnea and prescription medication use.
If you have difficulty with your sleeping patterns, visit a sleep center for an evaluation. Here are a few of the possible health effects of oversleeping:
Obesity
Being overweight or obese is one of the possible complications of oversleeping. Researchers have found that people are 21 percent more likely to be obese if they sleep for nine to 10 hours per night.
This finding was independent of other factors, such as exercise and food consumption. It’s also important to note that sleep deprivation increases levels of cortisol in the body, which encourages the accumulation of abdominal fat.
Try to support a healthy weight by sleeping for seven to eight hours per night.
Diabetes
Oversleeping may also increase your risk of type two diabetes. This chronic disease places you at risk for many other health complications, including peripheral neuropathy, kidney damage, and eye damage.
Heart Disease
You’re at a greater risk of heart disease if you oversleep—particularly if you sleep between nine and 11 hours every night.
If you’re a woman who sleeps this much, you have a 38 percent greater risk of developing coronary heart disease. More research is needed in this area to determine why oversleeping affects the cardiovascular system.
Depression
It’s common for depression to cause changes in sleeping patterns. However, oversleeping may also contribute to the worsening of depression.
Establishing regular sleeping patterns is one component of an effective depression treatment plan.
Zeeba Sleep Center is one of the only accredited sleep disorder centers in Las Vegas.
If you struggle to maintain regular sleeping patterns, call us today at (702) 242-1562 to learn how we can help. You could also visit our website for more information on our sleep center.
