No one can dispute the restorative value of sleep. Yet, when it comes to the amount of sleep you need, more isn’t necessarily better.
According to research, seven to nine hours of sleep per night is recommended for adults. However, approximately 4% to 6% of individuals worldwide habitually oversleep.
The researchers conducting this review found that, while people sleeping less than five to seven hours a night had a 12% higher risk of premature death, those sleeping more than nine hours per night were 30% more likely to die prematurely from any cause.
Hypersomnia is the clinical term for excessive or prolonged sleep. Individuals with the condition not only sleep longer, they may have trouble waking up or staying awake during the day.
Excessive sleep disorder is now being recognized as a risk factor for heart disease. One recent analysis of 2,846 patients showed that 35% of those with coronary artery disease slept longer than seven and a half hours per night.
Additionally, habitually sleeping for nine or more hours nightly and napping during the day can significantly increase the risk of developing dementia later in life.
Getting high-quality sleep is key to optimal health. However, too much of a good thing can be just as detrimental as not enough. If you aren’t able to stop oversleeping on your own, consult your healthcare practitioner to help address any underlying health conditions and provide additional strategies to overcome this challenge.