Sleep is fundamental to health, energy, and to repair the body. We know that poor sleep can create problems, but sleeping too much can be dangerous too.
A new study found that sleeping more than nine hours a night could mean a higher risk of early death. Many consider that more sleep means more rest, but science tells us differently.
71 studies with 79 outcomes that followed individuals for a minimum of one year were analyzed. The researchers had a goal of finding a connection between number of hours slept and risk of death. In their findings, those who slept for under seven hours had a 14% increase/decrease higher risk of death as compared to people sleeping from seven to eight hours. And those that slept over nine hours had an increased/decreased chance of dying early by 34%. With these two data points, we have evidence that sleep duration plays a role in increasing or decreasing life span.
This is not the first time the “too much sleep” relationship has been identified by experts in the health field. In 2018, researchers of a systematic literature review qualitatively analyzed outcomes of data collected from 74 studies over 30 years. The research reported an increase in early death of 14% more than nine hours of sleep. Therefore, the findings here are congruent with the distribution of both studies and continue to demonstrate increased risks with excess sleep.
The required sleep time differs according to a person’s age and medical conditions. According to Harvard Health, most healthy adults need at least 7 hours of sleep per night. However, Dr. Eric Zhou (Harvard Medical School) has stated some people may need a little more or a little less, but there is no “perfect” or “one-size-fits-all” number. The experts will say most agree quality matters more than quantity.
The Sleep Foundation warns that anything less than seven hours of sleep negatively impacts our immune system, as well as our performance, mental alertness, increases accident risk, and creates negative consequences overall. Additionally, getting too little or too much sleep can increase risks of severe medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and weight gain. Recognizing the amount of sleep required for your body has positive implications for a longer, healthier life.
Also Read: Expert Tips To Encourage Reading Habits In Children
Conclusion: Listen to your body. Sleep is significant and both extremes or either, not enough sleep nor too much sleep, can have its consequences. The goal is to get 7–8 hours of good sleep a day. If you are still tired after a long sleep check in with a doctor!
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