Oversleeping: Why Too Much Sleep Can Harm Your Brain and Heart

We’ve long known that sleep deprivation is bad for your health. But did you know that sleeping too much can be just as harmful? Recent research shows that spending excessive hours in bed can negatively impact cognitive functions and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

What is the ideal amount of sleep for the brain?

Deep sleep plays a key role in memory and in clearing waste from the brain. Yet a study by the Washington University Sleep Medicine Center revealed that oversleeping—especially in older adults—can reduce brain performance.

Participants who slept between 4.5 and 6.5 hours measured by EEG (equivalent to roughly 5.5 to 7.5 hours self-reported) showed the best cognitive results. Those who slept more or less experienced a significant decline in mental abilities.

Why can sleeping too much harm your health?

Sleeping longer than necessary may be linked to several factors:

• Ill people often spend more time in bed, which can distort study observations.

• Spending too long in bed promotes fragmented, lower-quality sleep, which is bad for both the brain and the heart.

• Other studies confirm a link between excessive sleep and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
  
  

How can you prioritize quality over quantity?

Instead of accumulating hours in bed, it’s better to aim for quality sleep. One effective method is Sleep Restriction Therapy (SRT):

• Temporarily reduce the time spent in bed to encourage faster sleep onset.

• Wake up at the same time every day—even if you went to bed late.

• Avoid daytime naps.

• Gradually adjust sleep duration to restore an optimal rhythm.

This method trains the brain to associate the bed with sleep, improving both sleep onset and continuity.

When should you see a professional?

If you suffer from severe insomnia or frequent awakenings, it is recommended to consult a doctor or a specialist in CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia).

Sleep is not only about the number of hours, but also about quality and consistency. Sleeping too much can be just as problematic as sleeping too little.

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