Is it possible to sleep too much?

Many studies have been done about the effects on our bodies and mind when we are not getting enough sleep, but is there such a thing as getting too much sleep?

The answer is yes and no.

“People are different in that there are some who function well on five or six hours of sleep, and those who need more,” said Karin Sloan, MD, a pulmonary medicine specialist at Cape Cod Hospital. “Adults sleep between eight and nine hours per night, which is ideal. But it tends to decrease a bit as we age and, at 65 and over, people typically get seven or eight hours per night.”

Excess sleep duration would be sleeping nine to 10 or more hours a night on a regular basis and still feeling tired or sleepy, she said.

While lack of sleep can be attributed to stress, depression, anxiety and other changes in people’s lives, the reasons for sleeping too much require a bit more teasing out.

“Some of the questions we ask include are they depressed, are they inactive, bored or not socializing?” said Dr. Sloan. “Other considerations include the use of alcohol, drugs, gummies, cannabis or opiates. Some prescribed medications have side effects of sleepiness. We also check for medical conditions including liver disease, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, a head injury or chronic pain, which can really wear on your body.”

Another possibility is sleep apnea, which can be very high on the list of causing excessive sleeping, however people often don’t feel rested, as their sleep is poor quality, Dr. Sloan said.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is typical for people having a hard time falling asleep and leg movements while they sleep can also disrupt their sleep pattern, she added.

Self-Tests for Assessment

One test that can be used to check the level of sleepiness is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, said Dr. Sloan. It can be done in the office or taken at home. It is available online to download. The total score determines if you need further testing.

In addition, the STOP BANG questionnaire assesses for obstructive sleep apnea. STOP BANG is an acronym for snoring, tiredness, observation, pressure, body mass index (BMI), age, neck circumference, and gender.

• Snoring: This question assesses whether you snore loudly.
• Tiredness: Feeling tired during the daytime.
• Observed Apnea: If a sleep partner has noticed that you stop breathing or gasp for air, pause or choking in your breathing.
• Pressure: High blood pressure.
• BMI: High body mass index
• Age: Those who are older than 50 are at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea.
• Neck Circumference: A measurement greater than 16 inches is considered a risk factor.
• Gender: Males are more prone to sleep apnea.

The higher your score on the STOP BANG assessment, the greater the possibility you have obstructive sleep apnea, said Dr. Sloan. These assessments can give you an idea of where you fall and, if you are concerned, you can contact your PCP for an evaluation.

Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia

“We can’t talk about sleeping too much without discussing narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia,” said Dr. Sloan. Narcolepsy is a rare condition caused by an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, (chemicals) in the brain, she said. She explains to patients that they have too few chemicals that promote wakefulness. They can feel very sleepy or fall asleep suddenly during the day.

Idiopathic hypersomnia is less well understood, but it is thought that there is some imbalance between sleeping chemicals and wakefulness chemicals in the brain, she said. Patients feel very sleepy during the day even though they get a good night’s sleep and they often complain of brain fog.

These two conditions are evaluated by doing an overnight sleep study and multiple latency tests the next day with nap tests to see how long it takes the patient to fall asleep.

The two conditions are rare, and diagnosis is often delayed. Narcolepsy typically presents in the teenage years and in young adults in their 20s, she added.

“These are kids who fall asleep in class and others make fun of them,” said Dr. Sloan. “They may not do well in school because they can’t focus, or they fall asleep in class. There are medications to treat narcolepsy that are life-altering. But a lot of times high school or college students won’t always seek attention or get help. It is important for them to know there are treatments.”