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• Too Much Or Not Enough

Too Much Sleep Can be Bad for Your Health

You’ve probably heard that getting too little sleep — six hours or less — is bad for your health.

But what about getting too much sleep? Is that even possible?

Yes, it is. And sleeping too much — 10 hours or more — can harm your health. Further, it may be a sign of underlying health problems, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Findings include:

• Too much sleep — as well as not enough sleep — raises the risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and obesity in adults age 45 and older.
• Sleeping too much puts you at greater risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes than sleeping too little.
• Sleeping more than seven or eight hours a night, and feeling tired the next day, could indicate you have a health problem.

When to See Your Doctor About Too Much Sleep

If you find yourself feeling worn out on days after long nights of sleep, that could be a sign that you need to make an appointment with your doctor.

Don’t ignore sleep problems. Feeling drained of energy after having more than adequate sleep could be a sign of conditions such as:

• Anemia: a deficit of red blood cells
• A thyroid problem
• Sleep apnea
• Insomnia

Sleep apnea and insomnia, common among people with chronic diseases, interfere with sound sleep and can worsen chronic health conditions, such as heart disease.

Sleeping too much puts you at greater risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes than sleeping too little.

If you wake up feeling exhausted, see your doctor. He or she may refer you to a sleep specialist to diagnose your specific problem and begin a course of treatment. Treating sleep-related conditions can significantly improve your chronic disease symptoms and quality of life.

A Sleep Journal Can Help

Keeping a sleep journal and sharing it with your doctor can be a big help in getting the treatment you need. In a sleep journal, record:

• When you go to bed
• An estimate of when you fall asleep
• Times that you wake up in the night
• The quality of your sleep
• How you feel when you get out of bed
• How you feel during the day

This information can aid your doctor in diagnosing your condition and getting you the help you need for improved health and renewed energy.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; Premier Health, Prevention and Wellness: Can people sleep too much? If so, what are the negative effects of too much sleep?; Premier HealthNet, Getting a Good Night’s Sleep