Oversleeping can lead to various health problems such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, back pain, and even death. The definition of “too much” sleep varies by age, and people of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to oversleep due to undiagnosed conditions. Oversleeping can also lead to obesity, anxiety, and other health issues. Strengthening back muscles through exercise is important to prevent back pain. The correlation between oversleeping and health problems is not fully understood.
The effects of oversleeping can vary based on certain factors, and the definition of “too much” will vary by age. A child, for example, is likely to sleep much longer than an adult; an adult should usually get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, so any adult who oversleeps is often labeled as oversleeping. Some of the conditions that can result from oversleeping include depression, diabetes, low energy levels, heart disease, back problems, and even death. Some of these results of oversleeping may also be the cause of oversleeping.
Connections between oversleeping and socioeconomic status have also been established through studies. People of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to oversleep due to undiagnosed diseases or conditions that can lead to oversleeping. They are less likely to seek treatment for these problems, which in turn can lead to more negative side effects of oversleeping. Even depression can be both a cause of oversleeping and a consequence of it. Depressed people are more likely to succumb to excessive sleep, and many studies have found that sleep deprivation can actually help relieve depression to some extent.
Oversleeping can also cause back pain or exacerbate existing back pain. In the past, doctors recommended bed rest for back problems, but doctors now recognize the need for more exercise to strengthen back muscles; weaker muscles are more likely to tire quickly, and muscles contract when tired. Strengthening your muscles prevents stiffening, which can lead to strains and tears, as well as other spinal problems. Sleeping too much allows the muscles to weaken and contract; this condition will be exacerbated if the person does not participate in a regular exercise routine.
The likelihood of obesity is also much higher in people who sleep too much, as are heart disease, diabetes and anxiety. Again, these conditions can either be an accident or the result of oversleeping, although in many cases, doctors don’t understand the correlation between oversleeping and the problems that trigger or result from it. People who sleep too much, for example, are at a higher risk of death than people who get an adequate amount of sleep each night. The correlation is not understood, but studies support this information.
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