Too much of sleep is harmful too

No one likes getting up in the morning (and we are not talking about that small percentage of freaks that do). We know you roll over hitting the snooze button for just five minutes more of that wonderful dream. But if you are sleeping a little too much, it might be time to change your lifestyle.

Now all of us have heard of insomnia, but did you know that sleeping too much is also harmful? Studies have shown that sleeping more than 6-8 hours a day could decrease the lifespan of an average adult by 17%!! According to Mumbai-based General Practitioner, Dr Prakash Lulla sleeping too much could cause diabetes, hypertension, migraines, increase chances of a cardio-vascular disease like a heart attack and compromise hormone levels.

“One of the most common effects of oversleeping is obesity,” says Mumbai-based Psychologist, Dr Sunita Dube. “Tiredness, irritability and fatigue are other effects”, she adds. Imagine so much from those 3-4 extra hours of your beauty sleep.

However, the sleeping itself is not a problem, what causes the excess sleep is. Here are some commonly known problems which might have made you want to say in bed a little longer.

 

Depression

15% of patients suffering from depression sleep too much. “Also, trauma, shock or stress can be a cause of prolonged sleeping”, says Dr Dube. If you know someone who’s not so happy and tends to oversleep, it is time for them to visit a psychologist.

Lack of exercise

Do you have a sedentary job?? Lack of exercise can reduce the quality of your sleep and the body will compensate by sleeping more than needed. Go out for a daily walk or give an hour to yoga.

Poor diet

Long hours of sleep might indicate that you need a change of diet. Eating too much processed food, junk food and eating foods that take longer to break down before sleeping might be interfering with your sleep. As much as you want to believe that it was only your scheming mother who wanted you to finish those foul tasting veggies in your plate, it has been proved that a healthy diet can do wonders for you.

 Health Problems

Too much sleep can be a sign of health disorders. Dr Lulla says “If you are sleeping too much suddenly, it might be a sign that there is something wrong with your body like a thyroid problem, a Central Nervous System Disorder or a metabolic disorder.” If it’s very difficult for you to get up in the morning even after pressing the snooze button 10 times, here are some things you can do to prevent that extra sleep.
1. Make sure your last meal is at least 3 hours before your bedtime. “Try having only a bowl of fresh fruits or a glass of milk before dinner”, says Dr Lulla. “Avoid drinking tea or coffee before sleeping”, adds Dr Sunita Dube.
2. Exercise regularly. It will not only help you sleep well but also make you physically fit.
3. If you go out during the day, a nice shower in the evening will help you sleep better at night.
4. More important than sleeping a lot is sleeping soundly. Try listening to some soft music, reading a light book or playing a relaxing game to improve the quality of your sleep.
5. Set a time for waking up in the morning. Earlier the better. According to Dr Lulla, “Waking up at 6 in the morning will help you sleep better at night and make the most of your day”.
6. Try sleeping in a room with lots of fresh air. The oxygen will refresh your mind and make your body function better.
7. Avoid sleeping in the day time. An afternoon nap of 45-minutes is fine, but lounging and sleeping for 2-3 hours might cost you your sweet dreams at night.
8. Psychologist Dube says, “Avoid negative thinking just before you sleep. Try calming techniques like meditation or Shavasana”.
9. We know you love sleeping but remember a good night’s sleep of 7 hours is sufficient to rejuvenate your body. So, set your alarm accordingly.
10. If you still feel sleepy after sleeping for 12 hours and nothing is helping, visit a doctor! So keep these tips in mind and sleep well!