Sleep is important, but too much sleep can be detrimental to your body over time. Unlike undersleeping, oversleeping disrupts our circadian rhythm, which forces our bodies to work harder to compensate for what feels like a time change.
So how do you know if you’re oversleeping, or just getting caught up on those extra zzzs? Check out these 4 signs that you may be getting too much sleep.
Wake Up Feeling Tired
If you are sleeping too much, you’ll find it hard to wake up or still feel tired in the A.M. It’s always tempting to hit that snooze button, especially on the weekend, but be careful not to overdo it. A good night’s sleep on a PerformaSleep Mattress should have you feeling refreshed and ready for the day. So if you are consistently waking up exhausted after more than 8 hours of sleep, it’s likely that you’re getting too much sleep.
Headaches
Oversleeping can be a major headache trigger for some. Headaches typically indicate a disruption in one of the fundamental pillars of health: sleep, diet, exercise, nutrition, or mood. Although headaches can appear for a number of reasons, they often involve neurotransmitters like serotonin.
Serotonin not only helps our bodies know when to wake up but also when to fall asleep. When we oversleep, serotonin levels are disrupted along with several other neurotransmitters in the brain. So if you’re regularly experiencing head pain and getting more than the recommended amount of sleep, try to limit your snoozing.
Forgetfulness
Studies have shown that oversleeping can actually affect your memory and even age your brain’s cognitive functions by as much as two years. A poor night’s rest - no matter how many or how few hours of sleep you got - can leave you feeling foggy the next day. In conclusion, your cognitive abilities can be directly affected by your sleep schedule. If you are receiving excessive shut-eye, you are more than likely experiencing an overall negative effect on your memory, resulting in forgetfulness.
Increased Pain and Inflammation
According to sleep studies, researchers have found a direct correlation between too much sleep and pain/inflammation. Oversleeping can cause muscle stiffness and pain from spending too much time laying in the same position.
And other studies have shown that people who sleep more than nine hours a night have high levels of cytokine, cells produced primarily by the immune system that helps regulate the body's inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation can make you sick, and even cause some cancers, asthma, and arthritis.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and struggling to reset your sleep patterns, talking to a professional might be the next step. Speak to your doctor about the ways you can reset your sleep schedule so you can start getting more quality sleep.
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