Sleep is a vital component of human health. Getting adequate sleep is important for overall well-being and optimal functioning of the human body.

While the National Sleep Foundation recommends adults to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night, some individuals may find themselves sleeping over 8 hours a day. While this may seem like a good thing, it may actually have negative consequences. In this article, we will discuss why getting more than 8 hours of sleep might be hurting you.

1. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

One of the negative consequences of getting too much sleep is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to a study published in the Journal of American Heart Association, individuals who slept for more than 8 hours had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases compared to those who slept for 6-8 hours. This may be due to the fact that excessive sleep can lead to high blood pressure, which is one of the main risk factors for heart disease.

2. Risk of Depression

While not getting enough sleep is known to cause depression, sleeping excessively can also increase your risk of developing depression.

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, people who slept for more than 9 hours a day had a higher risk of developing depression compared to those who slept for 7-8 hours a day. This is because oversleeping can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which can affect mood and energy levels.

3. Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Getting too much sleep can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a study published in the Diabetes Care Journal, individuals who slept for more than 8 hours a day had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Excessive sleep can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity, which increases the risk of developing insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.

4. Poor Sleep Quality

While it is important to get enough sleep, getting too much sleep can also lead to poor sleep quality.

According to a study published in the Journal Sleep Medicine, individuals who slept for more than 9 hours a day had poorer sleep quality compared to those who slept for 7-8 hours a day. This may be due to the fact that oversleeping can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and lead to fragmented sleep, causing you to wake up feeling tired and groggy.

5. Risk of Obesity

Getting too much sleep has also been linked to an increased risk of obesity.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, people who slept for more than 9 hours a day had a higher risk of becoming obese compared to those who slept for 7-8 hours a day. This may be due to the fact that oversleeping can disrupt the body’s natural metabolism, leading to weight gain.

6. Risk of All-Cause Mortality

Getting too much sleep can also increase your risk of all-cause mortality.

According to a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, individuals who slept for more than 8 hours a day had a higher risk of dying from any cause compared to those who slept for 6-8 hours a day. While the reasons for this are not entirely clear, it may be due to the fact that oversleeping is often linked to poor overall health.

7. Increased Risk of Dementia

Getting too much sleep can also increase your risk of developing dementia.

According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, people who slept for more than 8 hours a day had a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who slept for 6-8 hours a day. This may be due to the fact that oversleeping can lead to the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, a hallmark of dementia.

8. Increased Risk of Headaches

Oversleeping can also increase your risk of developing headaches.

According to a study published in the Journal Cephalalgia, individuals who slept for more than 9 hours had a higher risk of experiencing headaches compared to those who slept for 7-8 hours. This is because oversleeping can lead to changes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can trigger headaches in susceptible individuals.

9. Increased Risk of Back Pain

Getting too much sleep can also increase your risk of developing back pain.

According to a study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science, individuals who slept for more than 8 hours a day had a higher risk of developing lower back pain compared to those who slept for 6-8 hours a day. This is because oversleeping can lead to poor posture and muscle stiffness, which can lead to back pain.

10. Increased Risk of Anxiety

Excessive sleep can also increase your risk of developing anxiety.

According to a study published in the Journal Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, people who slept for more than 9 hours a day had a higher risk of developing anxiety compared to those who slept for 7-8 hours a day. This may be due to the fact that oversleeping can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, leading to increased anxiety and stress levels.

Conclusion

While getting enough sleep is important for overall health, sleeping for more than 8 hours a day can have negative consequences on your health.

Oversleeping can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, poor sleep quality, obesity, all-cause mortality, dementia, headaches, back pain, and anxiety. To maintain optimal health, it is important to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

If you find yourself sleeping excessively, it might be useful to speak to your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause and develop interventions to improve your sleep quality and duration.