♥ Monday, May 4, 2009
What Happens If I Take Too Much Sleep?
Everything should be done in moderation, as what we normally hear. Too much of something may be detrimental just as much as lack of something may also be dangerous. The same goes with sleeping. Studies show that, on the average, the optimal and ideal number of hours an adult should take is about seven to eight hours of quality sleep. However, there are times when we tend to keep ourselves under the comforts of our bed sheets even after the alarm has gone off, and even after eight hours of sleep. What really happens when we take too much sleep?
Taking too much sleep damages your circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is controlled by a part of the brain (that is in the central area or region) that functions as your 24 hour ‘clock'. This clock, somehow commands the body when we are sleepy by changing the temperature of our body. We feel sleepy when the temperature of our body is lowered. On the other hand, when the body temperature is raised, we feel awake and alert.
In addition, the longer your sleep (that is again, over and above the amount you require for daily functioning), the more the quality of your sleep deteriorates. Individuals who, time and again, sleep ten to twelve hours a night (or even more) actually find it harder to get sleep. Furthermore, they wake more frequently and worse, they feel less rested when they wake up in the morning. It is unfortunate though because this feeling starts a series where you feel more tired and you think more sleep is needed to solve the problem and adjust to the situation. This is actually what they call sleep inertia - grogginess, fatigue, and the inability to "wake up" due to excessive sleep.
When we talk of too much sleep, we do not only consider here the sleep we take in the night time. Oversleeping may occur also during naps. Have you ever taken a nap and awoken more tired than when you fell asleep? For many, if taking a nap takes more than 15 minutes, their body thinks it is night time. Their body may then lapse into a deeper sleep, and it will be harder for them to wake up. This is what we call sleep inertia. Longer naps affect your circadian rhythm and it will definitely make it harder for you to sleep when you should sleep or wake when you should wake.
Experts say that if a person spends too long a time in bed, then they'll spend a higher percentage of time being awake. Furthermore, there could be medical reasons and causes for a person to engage in too much sleep. Alternatively, experts suggest that there may be a link between long sleeping and depression, noting that people who are depressed often temporarily feel better after skipping a night of sleep. Nevertheless, it is suggested that you seek medical attention whenever you feel any of the symptoms mentioned here.
Things happen for a reason
Blogged @ 4:41 PM
