Despite the fact that we live in a world that is on the move 24/7, our bodies require an adequate amount of sleep to function properly. While most of us are aware of the effects of not getting enough sleep, sleeping too much can also be a problem. Sleeping longer doesn’t necessarily mean you are sleeping well; often those who do oversleep find they wake up feeling no better rested than if they had slept for six hours. While we don’t often think of sleep as contributing to much other than our energy level for the next day, sleep is just as important a part of living a healthy balanced lifestyle as eating right and getting exercise.
According to a study published in the journal SLEEP, sleeping for less than six hours or more than ten hours both show an increased prevalence in people suffering from chronic conditions in people 45 and older. These inappropriate sleep patterns were shown to be linked with obesity, mental distress, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Whether inadequate sleep is a cause or a symptom of chronic illness is unclear, a link between the two was clearly demonstrated.
The study followed more than 54,000 patients and compared the prevalence of chronic health conditions and sleep duration. Around 31% of people reported getting less than six hours of sleep at night and about 4% reported getting more than ten hours of sleep. Researchers found that those reporting too little or too much sleep were more likely to be suffering from chronic illness. The authors of the study noted that more research will be required to understand the connections between mental health and obesity may interact with sleep duration to prevent chronic diseases.
The post Sleeping Too Much Or Too Little May Be A Sign Of Chronic Health Problems appeared first on .