Disorders Associated with Sleeping Too Much
Different people need different amounts of sleep, and one person may feel the need for different amounts of sleep at different times in life. Although the amount of sleep you need varies, most people should sleep between seven and nine hours per night. Hypersomnia is the medical term for a condition in which people sleep more than 10 hours a night and still feel tired. Sleeping more than that can both cause health problems and be a symptom of them. If your sleep patterns are irregular, it is a good idea to see your doctor.
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Sleep Apnea
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Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing several times throughout the night while sleeping. When they do, the brain wakes the body up just enough to start breathing again. Although individuals with sleep apnea may not be aware that they are waking up several times per night, they may feel an increased need for sleep because the sleep they are getting is not restful.
Drugs and Alcohol
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Excessive use or abuse of alcohol can cause people to sleep more than normal, as can the use of illegal drugs. Some prescription medications may also increase an individual's need for sleep.
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Depression
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Depression commonly interrupts normal sleep cycles. Some people suffering from depression find that they cannot sleep. Other depression sufferers sleep for extended periods of time and still feel tired.
Diabetes
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Although no one is sure why, a study of 9,000 people revealed that people who sleep more than 9 hours a night run a 50 percent higher risk of becoming diabetic.
Narcolepsy
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Narcolepsy is a condition that interrupts the sleep cycle during the REM phase, or rapid eye movement phase. Narcoleptics tend to be excessively tired, have trouble moving when they first wake up and have periods during the day that they do not remember in spite of being awake and active.
Women
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Women who sleep 9 to 11 hours show a 38 percent increase in incidences of coronary artery disease.
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References
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
