We need sufficient sleep so that the body can regenerate and recharge its batteries. However, if it gets too much sleep, this can have serious consequences for the psyche and the body.
Regular sleep is very important for our well-being. While we sleep our body can recover.
Sleep is actually quite simple, but we do a lot of things wrong. Too much sleep is just as unhealthy as too little sleep. However, it is not just a matter of sleeping too long, but at the wrong times and constantly changing sleep patterns.
How much sleep you really need depends on your age. A toddler has different sleep needs than an adult, who in turn has different needs than an older person.
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However, there are values you should adhere to in order to minimize health risks.
With these tricks you can fall asleep better
5 consequences of too much sleep
We know that too little sleep has a negative impact on our health. But did you also know that too much sleeping brings with it health consequences?
1. diabetes due to too much sleep
Long sleepers in particular are at risk of developing diabetes. Sleeping late upsets your metabolism and disrupts your hormone balance. Insulin resistance develops and your blood sugar levels begin to rise.
2. you get depri when you sleep too much
Too much sleep can be the trigger for depression. If you regularly sleep more than 9 hours at a time, you increase your risk of depression by 49 percent. Sleeping between seven and nine hours increases the risk by only 27 percent.
3. excess of sleep lowers concentration
Sleeping for a long time can have a negative effect on your memory. You find it difficult to concentrate and are easily distracted by external stimuli.
4. too much sleep makes you fat
Sleep duration also affects your weight. According to one Canadian study you can expect to gain weight sooner if you sleep more than nine hours than if you sleep seven hours.
But that does not mean that little sleep makes you slim :)
5. heart disease in late risers
Long sleepers are more likely to suffer a stroke or develop heart disease. Those who sleep longer also have a shorter life expectancy. Headaches and dizziness can occur. Even fertility can be reduced by too much sleep.
This is how much sleep you really need
How many hours of sleep per day is too much
How many hours of sleep is too much is difficult to determine. Every person has his or her own individual need for sleep. Some people don't mind sleeping ten or even twelve hours at a stretch.
Sleep needs and habits also change throughout life. Babies need a lot of sleep. Older people, on the other hand, need rather little sleep.
Too much sleep becomes dangerous when you override your natural need for sleep. This happens when you try to continue sleeping after waking up.
If you then fall asleep again, you exceed your sleep requirement. On average, adults need seven hours of sleep.
However, your sleep needs depend on your genetic predisposition as well as the quality of your sleep.
If you have a regular sleep rhythm and sleep for about seven hours, your cognitive abilities improve. Your vision, orientation, perception and comprehension are significantly more active.
As soon as the sleep duration exceeds seven or even eight hours, these abilities deteriorate significantly.
Attention: This applies to adults between the ages of 18 and 64. Children and older people have a completely different need for sleep.
Healthy sleep means resting no more than eight hours at a time. Anything more than that is unhealthy in the long term.
Did you know that houseplants help you fall asleep?
Do late risers live unhealthier lives?
For a large part of the people Too much sleep actually unhealthy. But it depends on how often you sleep too long. If you stay in bed one day longer and "sleep in", this will have no consequences for your body.
However, if you constantly exceed your personal need for sleep, it can be unhealthy for your body and psyche.
With too much sleep, you'll probably also just very difficult to fall asleep and have restless nights. Find your optimal sleep duration and comply with them.
Tip: Look at our contribution "Wake up quickly in the morning" over.
The 11 best natural sleep aids in the world
The most common reasons for too much sleep
The reasons for too much sleep can be different.
If we sleep very little or restlessly during the night, the body tries to compensate. This can cause us to sleep too much.
Low sleep quality
The wrong sleeping position, an unsuitable mattress or poor sleep hygiene could be a reason for restless nights.
Tip: If you wake up in the morning with tension, you should definitely invest in a new mattress. It will make you sleep much better :)
Make sure you don't rest your head too high or too low. This can also promote tension.
Sleep disorders
Sleep apnea, snoring, sweating or nasal congestion disturb your sleep. It's best to get checked out by a doctor.
Diseases and medicines
Many illnesses put a strain on the body and it needs more rest. You also sleep longer due to medication or psychological complaints.
Poor diet
Nutrition also plays a major role in restful sleep. Alcohol, too much coffee, cigarettes or too much sugar put a strain on the body and impair regeneration at night.
This is what happens when you sleep too little
Social environment
Sleeping late is often associated with listlessness. People with little drive find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning.
Time change, jet lag or stress can be just as much a trigger for too much sleep.
TipWatch your sleep. This way you can improve your sleep quality and not harm your health.
Our conclusion
Regular, restful sleep is very important. Not only for our well-being. But also for our health. If you sleep too much, you risk serious illnesses. Find your optimal sleep duration and pay attention to a healthy sleep rhythm.
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