Sleep is one of the most crucial elements in living a balanced life. The amount of sleep your body needs is dependent on your age, activity level, general health, and lifestyle habits. Experts recommend that adults should sleep between seven and nine hours each night.

Hypersomnia is defined as oversleeping, and it is actually classified as a medical disorder. When someone suffers from hypersomnia, he or she suffers from extreme sleepiness throughout the day and constantly needs more sleep. These people also tend to sleep for an unusually long period of time. People who suffer from hypersomnia can also suffer from anxiety, low energy, and memory problems. Other factors that can cause oversleeping are the use of certain substances and medications, as well as depression. Stress can also have a similar, short-term effect on your sleeping habits. It is normal to feel the need to sleep more when you feel stressed or are sick.

While resting your body and sleeping is healthy, oversleeping can cause some medical problems—diabetes, obesity, headaches, back pain, depression, heart disease, and even death.

Oversleeping can be a problem and it should not be ignored. Oversleeping can be a symptom of something else going on in your body. If you or a loved one oversleep and suffer from hypersomnia, please contact a doctor near you.

For more information on hypersomnia, depression, or substance abuse, contact Solace Counseling. We can help treat the underlying cause and get you back on a regular sleep cycle. Look for us on Facebook and Twitter.