9 replies to this topic

[ironfistx]

I am guessing this is not the case if you are sick and feeling like you need to sleep more.

[aconita]

If it was the case I should be dead since a long time.

[pamojja]

 

How come sleeping more over 8 hours a night is associated with higher chance of death?

I am guessing this is not the case if you are sick and feeling like you need to sleep more.

 

If this would hold true, I'm guessing the opposite: you're sleeping longer and die earlier because of being sick?

[normalizing]

very good thread it starts nicely with an article or two, then some valid interesting questions and it seems a lot of heated debate

[SearchHorizon]

Generally, too much sleep is correlated with higher stress level, which means higher cortisol. Chronically elevated cortisol, of course, has all sorts of inflammatory effect on the body. High blood pressure, telomere breakage, heart problems, etc. That is, more than 8 hours of sleep indicates excess stress in life (more sleep to recover from the stress).

 

 This is another classic example of "Correlation is not causation." 

[normalizing]

how would more rest raise cortisol tho, i know for sure lack of sleep raises it and makes you agitated. not supporting long hours sleep as that makes me as tired as lack of sleep but i dont understand the science behind raise in cortisol from more sleep, that and also high blood pressure and other negatives etc.

[SearchHorizon]

how would more rest raise cortisol tho, i know for sure lack of sleep raises it and makes you agitated. not supporting long hours sleep as that makes me as tired as lack of sleep but i dont understand the science behind raise in cortisol from more sleep, that and also high blood pressure and other negatives etc.

 

More rest doesn't raise cortisol. Rather, it is higher cortisol (or stress) that is causing more rest/sleep, if I understand the study correctly.

[Manwhoworkstoomuch!]

I don't sleep more than 6- 8 hours but i usually fall asleep as soon as I put my head down on the couch.

 

Yeah, stress sucks. I hate those nights when your mind can't shut off. That stuff ruins my weekends.

[ironfistx]

Are you saying more sleep is associated with less lifespan because the people who sleep more have a condition that makes them sleep more?

[Diocletian]

Too much or too little sleep both can have negative impact on your health, but everything between 6-10 hours should be OK, depends how much you need to feel rested.