Does Sleeping Too Much Shorten Your Life?

For many years, we have seen news reports and studies on how a lack of sleep can drastically and negatively affect not only your current quality of life but also long term health, which significantly shortens your lifespan. However, recent research has proven that the reverse is also true: sleeping too much can reduce your overall life expectancy. 

At Zleepy, we know that, as with all things, finding the right balance of not only the amount of sleep (as in hours slept) but the quality of that sleep is essential in supporting a long life and good health.

While we have previously outlined what the lack of sleep can do to your brain (and overall well being), today, we are looking at the risks and repercussions of sleeping more than the recommended daily amount.

How Too Much Sleep Affects You

Sleep is, somewhat counterintuitively, a busy time for the body in which the body can rejuvenate and repair itself. A good night’s sleep boosts productivity, cognitive abilities, and general organ health. The recommendation for sleep duration is between 7 and 9 hours per night, depending on factors such as age and lifestyle. Too much sleep is generally defined as sleeping more than 10 hours per night, while too little sleep is any less than 7 hours. Recent findings show a statistical correlation between oversleeping and various conditions, including: 

• Psychiatric diseases
• Depression
• High(er) BMIs and weight gain
• Increased incidences of strokes
• Increased risk of heart disease
• Chronic fatigue
• Systemic inflammation
• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Diabetes

Simply put, sleeping too much can put you at risk for several unhealthy conditions, but it can also indicate an underlying condition, i.e. you sleep too much because you are already suffering from one of these (or other) underlying conditions. If you are sleeping too much, a visit to your doctor or medical health professional is strongly encouraged so that you may address the cause(s) and achieve a good sleep balance.

When it comes to finding your sleep sweet spot, Zleepy is here to help. Make sure that you aren’t sleeping too much or too little by contacting us using our contact form or by emailing us at [email protected]. Let’s help you get a full night’s sleep so you can live a longer, healthier life!