Study Reveals Too Much Sleep Can Increase the Risk of Death, Here's the Scientific Explanation

Illustration of sleep for too long. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - We often hear advice from the news and social media that we should get more sleep. You probably already know that not getting enough sleep can negatively impact your brain, heart, overall health, and even your skin and sex drive.

But what about sleeping too much? A recent report suggests that sleeping more than nine hours can actually be worse for your health than sleeping too little. This naturally leaves many people confused and anxious.

Just like nutritional intake and physical activity, sleep is a crucial pillar of maintaining good health. When we sleep, our bodies carry out various physiological processes that are essential for supporting daytime functions. These include muscle recovery, memory strengthening, and emotional regulation.

As reported by Science Alert, according to a report by the Sleep Health Foundation, Australia's leading non-profit organization specializing in healthy sleep education, adults are recommended to sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night.

It's true that a small percentage of people naturally get by with less than seven hours of sleep and still function well. But for most people, lack of sleep can have negative effects, ranging from low energy, low mood, stress, and difficulty concentrating.

In the long term, insufficient sleep can increase the risk of various serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, mental disorders like depression and anxiety, and even cancer and death.

A recent study reviewed 79 previous studies that tracked sleep habits and health for at least one year. The results showed that people who slept less than seven hours per night had a 14% higher risk of death during the study period, compared to those who slept 7–8 hours.

However, surprisingly, those who Those who sleep more than nine hours per night also have a 34% higher risk of death compared to those who sleep 7–8 hours.

This finding aligns with a similar 2018 study that analyzed data from 74 different studies. That study found that sleeping more than nine hours was associated with a 14% increased risk of death.

Furthermore, sleeping too much is often associated with various other health problems such as depression, chronic pain, weight gain, and metabolic disorders.

Many factors may explain the link between prolonged sleep and poor health. People with chronic illnesses often sleep longer because their bodies need extra rest for recovery, or because of side effects from medications.

It could also be because they don't get enough quality sleep, leading them to spend more time in bed to make up for the lack of sleep.

Furthermore, unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking or obesity are also linked to poor sleep patterns. Therefore, it's possible that someone sleeps longer because their body is already unhealthy, rather than because sleep itself is causing the illness.

In other words, prolonged sleep may be a symptom of a health problem, not the cause. Everyone's sleep needs are different, and scientists don't yet fully understand what influences these differences.

Age can be a factor. For example, teenagers need more sleep, around 8 to 10 hours, and tend to go to bed and wake up later. Meanwhile, older adults may spend more time in bed, even though their sleep needs remain the same as when they were younger.

However, for most adults, 7–9 hours of sleep per night is ideal. Equally important, it's not just the length of sleep; sleep quality and consistent bedtimes also play a significant role in maintaining health.