Sleep is one of the pillars of health, yet it is very often neglected or abused on a daily basis. Just like sleep deprivation too much sleep can also have important consequences on health. Consequences compiled here by Santé Sur le Net.
Hypersomnia and oversleeping
A certain amount of sleep, as well as a good quality of sleep, is essential for good health. While sleep deprivation disorders are widely documented, few people know thatexcessive sleep can also have a negative impact on health. Excessive sleep is called by specialists thehypersomnia.
Hypersomnia can be associated with specific diseases such as narcolepsya or thesleep apneaIt can also affect people without any particular illness (idiopathic hypersomnia). Excessive sleep can be characterised by :
- Too many hours of sleep every day;
- Frequent sleeping in;
- Sleepiness on certain days of the week.
Excessive sleep associated with health risks
Specialists speak ofhypersomnia over 9 hours of sleep per day over a minimum period of one month. Excessive sleep is associated with other disorders:
- Unexplained tiredness that makes you want to sleep more;
- Difficulty or inability to get up in the morning;
- Significant sleepiness during the day;
- A social impact.
Whatever the cause, theexcess of sleep The lack of sleep has an impact not only on quality of life, but also on short, medium and long-term health. Indeed, studies have shown that sleeping more than 8 hours a day can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such asstroke (STROKE). In addition, hypersomnia appears to be associated with an increased risk ofobesity.
Regain optimal sleep duration and quality
Similarly, theexcess of sleep increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to a scientific study, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases by 14 % for every additional hour of sleep beyond 7 hours per day. Finally, sleep has an impact on mental health. Thus, thehypersomnia is sometimes associated with depression and anxiety disorders.
Sleep duration, which ideally should be between 7 and 8 hours per day for an adult, is closely related to sleep quality. Too little or too much sleep can be due to poor sleep quality. Detailed sleep examinations and the search for possible causes are essential to decipher the patients' sleep and thus find solutions for patients to regain efficient and healthy sleep.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
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