Researchers of a new study found that too much or too little sleep can lead to health problems like heart diseases, obesity and diabetes.
Previous studies have linked inadequate sleep (less than 6 hours per night) to many chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary heart diseases and obesity. However, researchers from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine conducted a study which was the first of its kind to link too much sleep (more than 10 hours a night) to these diseases.
According to a new Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report, it is important that people strike the right balance between too much and too little sleep to keep these heath problems at bay. Researchers also recommend that people already suffering from these health issues should consult a sleep medicine physician so that their sleep patterns are evaluated.
"It's critical that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to receive the health benefits of sleep, but this is especially true for those battling a chronic condition," said Dr. M. Safwan Badr, president of the AASM. "Common sleep illnesses - including sleep apnea and insomnia - occur frequently in people with a chronic disease and can hinder your ability to sleep soundly. So if you're waking up exhausted, speak with a sleep physician to see if there's a problem. If you are diagnosed with a sleep illness, treating it could significantly improve disease symptoms and your quality of life."
He also noted that frequent mental distress and obesity were some of the symptoms that linked unhealthy sleep durations to chronic diseases. He suggested that physicians should also consider monitoring mental health and body weight in addition to sleep health for patients with chronic diseases.
4,000 participants aged 45 or older in 14 states took part in the study. Out of these participants, 32 percent were short sleepers who received less than 6 hours of sleep at an average. Another 64 percent of participants were classified as optimal sleepers, receiving adequate hours of sleep per night and the remaining 4 percent were long sleepers who slept for more than 10 hours per night at an average.
During the study, researchers found that people who had too little sleep reported a higher number of coronary heart diseases, diabetes, strokes, mental distress and obesity compared to people who got the right amount of sleep per night. The same held true for people who slept for more than 10 hours per night.
"Sleeping longer doesn't necessarily mean you're sleeping well. It is important to understand that both the quality and quantity of sleep impact your health," said Badr. "A healthy, balanced lifestyle is not limited to diet and fitness; when and how you sleep is just as important as what you eat or how you exercise."
Findings of the study were published in the October issue of the Journal SLEEP.
