A recent study has found that sleeping too much can increase the likelihood of stroke. While many studies have shown the benefits of sleep, with many enforcing that people should sleep eight hours a day, this new research shows that oversleeping could be detrimental to your health. Furthermore, frequently oversleeping can point towards an underlying medical condition.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to particular areas of the brain critically reduces, leading to damage.
The researchers concluded from their experiments that people who sleep over eight hours a day are more likely to have a stroke than those that sleep about 6-8 hours a day. Sleeping too much has even led some young people at about 25 years old to die because of a stroke.
The team gathered 30,000 people and assessed their risk of a stroke. They found that those who slept more than 8 hours had a 23% higher chance of experiencing a stroke than those who slept 6-8 hours. Furthermore, people who took a 90-minute midday nap had a 25% more chance of getting a stroke than those who took 30-minute naps. Additionally, people who slept long hours but had poor quality sleep had an 82% increased risk.
After people experience a stroke, sleep problems tend to occur. About 50% of people who have had a stroke struggle to get proper sleep after their recovery. Unfortunately, this can lead to memory loss, melancholy, and slow recovery.
Scientists still don’t know how sleeping too much can lead to a stroke. However, they speculate that it could be because of the increased cholesterol levels and weight gain in people who oversleep. They add that making positive lifestyle changes can reduce risk by 80%. Moreover, doctors believe that reducing sugar intake, evaluating blood pressure, exercising, and avoiding smoking could help protect you.
Experts recommend resetting your body clock to keep from overseeing. You can achieve this by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. While it could take a long time to adjust to your sleep schedule, it will be worth it if you stay consistent and do it every day.