Causes, Effects, and Much More About Oversleeping

What number of times have you woken up with a throbbing head? Have you ever been so exhausted that you couldn’t even get out of bed? When we think about oversleeping, we usually think of those cases where a person simply doesn’t feel well and stays in bed for a day or two. However, in some cases, when you oversleep, it may be a sign of depression, anxiety, or insomnia. In this post, we explain the causes and effects of oversleeping and how to get out of bed, sleep more efficiently, and even sleep better.

oversleeping causes effects

Overview about Oversleeping

The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7 to 9 hours. There is variation in how it is done. Some people need less than 6 hours of sleep, while others need over 10 hours of sleep. People who need an extra hour or two of sleep will not be affected by oversleeping. People who need extra sleep because they’ve had a recent illness, extreme workout, or have traveled a long distance are not considered being oversleeping. Sleeping for 13 hours a night is a symptom of oversleeping.

Oversleeping Symptoms

Sleeping more than nine hours a night is not the only symptom of oversleeping. There are more like headaches, excessive napping during the day, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

What Causes Oversleeping?

Oversleeping indicates a problem. It’s linked to other health problems.

Look at them:

Inconsistent sleep cycle

There are many factors that can cause inconsistencies in the sleep cycle. Every night, the body goes through several cycles of rapid eye movements and non-REM sleep. It is important that a person feel rested the next day. When the sleep cycle is disrupted, people can sleep more than they should.

  • Caffeine consumption before bed
  • Bruxism or teeth grinding
  • Loud noises
  • Pain
  • Bright lights
  • Restless legs syndrome

The sleep cycle can be affected by other conditions as well. We’ll go through each part of the process and discuss each one below.

Narcolepsy

A person can be sleepy throughout the day because of narcolepsy. This isn’t going to go away after a full night of sleep or napping. Your brain’s ability to control sleep and wake cycles can be affected by a chronic neurological disorder called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is usually no more treatable than any other type of sleep disorder. A person with narcolepsy has uncontrollable episodes of extreme sleepiness. These episodes can be associated with strong emotions such as excitement, anxiety, and anger. Narcolepsy is diagnosed by a sleep specialist. They can help you figure out which symptoms The most common symptoms include: sleep that’s difficult to wake up from. Sleepy during the day, feeling drowsy or tired when a person hasn’t slept for a while. It is possible that other sleep issues, as well as physical and cognitive symptoms, are also caused by narcolepsy.

Hypothyroidism

It is possible for sleep patterns to be affected by hypothyroidism. Sleepiness is a symptom of an underactive thyroid. People with inactive thyroid typically experience sleepiness even after getting adequate sleep. It’s possible this will lead to daytime napping or falling back asleep in the morning. Muscle weakness, unexplained weight gain, and feeling cold are some of the common signs of hypothyroidism.

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can also be the reason for oversleeping. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for a short time during sleep. When this occurs multiple times each night it disrupts the sleep cycle. This can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness and the need for more sleep.

Some more signs of obstructive sleep apnea:

  • Memory issues
  • Decreased libido
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Waking up often to urinate
  • Headaches or a dry mouth upon waking

Depression

Sometimes the relationship between sleep and depression is difficult to understand. Deficiency of sleep is a symptom of depression and a risk factor according to one study. Several studies have linked various types of sleep disorders to a higher risk for depression.

Even though insomnia or difficulty falling or staying asleep is the main symptom of depression, hypersomnia can occur in some instances. It’s possible that this is due to a broken sleep cycle that leads to oversleeping to make up for lost sleep. Its exact cause is still not clear.

Medications

Some medications, especially for patients with conditions such as depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may cause oversleeping. People who can’t manage their medications should talk to a doctor about adjusting the dose.

Idiopathic hypersomnia

Doctors don’t know the underlying reason for oversleeping even after they have a full diagnosis. This is known as idiopathic hypersomnia. A person with this condition may have too much sleep.

What Are The Effects of Oversleeping?

Scientists are looking for the “sweet spot” for good sleep by looking at how different habits affect physical and mental wellness. There is a correlation between oversleeping and higher rates of disease and mortality. Impacts of oversleeping:

  • Depression 
  • Higher risk of obesity 
  • Cognitive impairment 
  • Higher risk of diabetes 
  • Increased inflammation 
  • Higher risk of heart disease 
  • Increased pain
  • Higher risk of stroke 
  • Impaired fertility 
  • Higher all-cause mortality

How Can You Avoid Overseeing?

Get your health and sleep checked out by your doctor if you’re worried about oversleeping. The best way to record your sleep and wake times is to keep a sleep diary.

Your doctor may find this information useful to help her suggest a treatment plan for you to follow to get better sleep. It’s easy to use these healthy ways of sleeping to improve your sleep habits:

  • Create a Bedtime Routine: Make sure you prepare a sleep routine. Avoid light from electronics in the hours before bed.
  • Set a Regular Sleep Schedule: If you want to wake up at the same time every day, you should go to bed at the same time. It is possible to avoid sleep debt with this help
  • Keep Active: Daily exercise and sunlight exposure help us to sleep well at night. It is a good idea to not engage in too much exercise right before you sleep
  • Nap Early: It will be difficult for you to fall asleep at night if you take naps in the last half of the afternoon. If you want to avoid taking naps in the late afternoon, go for early afternoon naps.
  • Consider Your Sleep Environment: A well-designed bedroom is a place where you can relax, sleep, and recover. A well-designed bedroom can be a place where you can relax and recuperate.

Conclusion

You might have an underlying medical condition that is affecting your sleep and keeping you up at night. Talk to your doctor if this is the case. If you are experiencing excessive sleepiness while on vacation, don’t take sleeping pills. If you want to improve sleep quality, learn how to relax your mind before going to bed.