You’ve heard the expression, “All things in moderation,” right?
It’s good advice to live by. And after you read today’s article, you’ll see why it’s absolutely true.
That’s because I just came across a recent study that shows us why too much of a “good” thing can actually be very bad for you.
You already know that not sleeping enough is bad for your health.
But here’s what you probably DON’T know …
Getting too much sleep can be just as bad for you!
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that sleeping more than 10 hours a night can be very bad for your health. [1]
Researchers tracked the sleep patterns of over 54,000 participants spread across 14 states. They found that most people get 6 hours of sleep or less per night. But a few were getting 10 hours or more.
Not surprisingly, those folks getting little sleep had high rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and stroke.
Interestingly enough, the same was true with those who reported themselves as “long” sleepers.
Even more surprising — these rates of diseases were even more pronounced in the “long” sleepers group.
The researchers don’t know exactly why this is, but guessed that it was because the QUALITY of their sleep wasn’t necessarily good, despite sleeping so long.
Who knew?
This is an important finding since plenty of folks think that they can “catch up” on sleep on the weekends by forcing themselves to sleep in as long as possible.
The important thing to take from this study is this:
Getting the RIGHT amount of sleep is vital to your overall health.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, do whatever is necessary to make sure you’re getting 7-9 hours every night.
Maybe your job schedule doesn’t allow 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. See if you can take a few naps throughout the day.
Maybe you suffer from insomnia. Take up a meditative practice, so you can learn to “quiet” your mind and fall asleep easier.
On the other hand, if you regularly sleep too much, get your thyroid checked by your doctor.
Sometimes sleeping too much can be caused by thyroid problems or some other “hidden” health issue you might not be aware of.
Finally, get into a routine. Make it a habit to fall asleep and get up at the same time every day.
This is perhaps the BEST way to ensure you get the optimal 7-9 hours of sleep every single night.
And as always, make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle. That means eating unprocessed foods, as often as possible. Get plenty of exercise throughout the week. And learn different ways to deal with stress as it comes up during the day.
Making these few simple changes can go a long way to ensuring your sleep pattern is healthy and optimal.
Oh and by the way, if you’re serious about taking your overall health and fitness to the next level before the year ends, why not take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation? (an $87 value)
During this consult, you’ll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that’s tailored to YOUR body.
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References:
[1].Yong Liu, Anne G. Wheaton, Daniel P. Chapman, Janet B. Croft. “Sleep Duration and Chronic Diseases among US Adults Age 45 Years and Older: Evidence From the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.” SLEEP, 2013; DOI: 10.5665/sleep.3028