Excessive sleep: Doctor on whether it is dangerous or not
Illustrative photo (Freepik)
Excessive sleep, also known as hypersomnia, is a condition where you regularly sleep more than 10 hours a day. Doctor Dasha Vlasenko shared about whether it is harmful to our bodies.
What is hypersomnia?
Hypersomnia is the feeling of excessive sleepiness during the day, a need to sleep up to 18 hours daily, a need to nap multiple times a day, or not feeling rested after waking up.
Causes of prolonged sleep:
- Temporary prolonged sleep can simply result from recovery after hours of wakefulness accumulated over previous days (e.g., exam preparation, long drives).
- Sleep disorders (apnea, restless legs syndrome, parasomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, etc.)
- Medications (hypertension medications, antidepressants, sedatives, antiepileptic drugs, etc.)
- Head trauma. A 2019 review found that 28% of people who suffered a traumatic brain injury have hypersomnia.
- Chronic pain (back pain, headaches)
- Alcohol
Symptoms that may occur after excessive sleep:
- Agitation and irritability
- Fatigue and excessive sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Increased daytime sleep
- Decreased appetite
- Memory problems
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Is excessive sleep dangerous?
According to the doctor, excessive sleep can negatively impact your immune system, mental health, heart health, and potentially lead to chronic diseases. You may develop:
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Ischemic heart disease
- Diabetes
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
