Too much sleep can make you sick: When does it become dangerous?

In winter, many people go to bed earlier than in summer. But beware: too much sleep can be just as unhealthy as too little. A recent study shows that excessive sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Those who regularly get too little sleep not only risk a bad mood but also an increased susceptibility to illness. The importance of sufficient sleep for health is now widely recognized. However, this doesn't mean you should lie in bed endlessly. Too much sleep can also be unhealthy and, in the long run, even make you tired.

Sleep duration: How much sleep is too much?

The ideal amount of sleep varies from person to person. While one person might be perfectly fine with six hours, another might need at least nine hours to function reasonably well in the morning. However, the required amount of sleep can also fluctuate. For example, women need more rest during certain phases of their menstrual cycle and less at others, just as children and older people often need more sleep.

A study shows how unhealthy too much sleep is

Researchers at Western University have discovered that excessive sleep can be unhealthy for the body. The team surveyed approximately 11,000 participants from various countries about their sleep habits, performance, and health problems. The surprising finding: too much sleep can lead to the same symptoms as too little.

What symptoms does too much sleep cause?

As we've already mentioned, too much bed rest can also make you tired. Furthermore, headaches can occur, and concentration can decrease, which in the worst case can even lead to accidents. Based on research, more than ten hours of sleep per night can even promote metabolic syndrome (the co-occurrence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease). In addition, excessive sleep increases appetite, often leading to weight gain.

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