How to tell your physical condition from your sleep duration

In recent years, the discussion about sleep hours and health has attracted much attention. Although many medical studies have pointed out that insufficient sleep can harm health, the latest research has found that excessive sleep can also indicate physical problems. A large European study showed that people who sleep too much for a long time,Cardiovascular diseasesThe risk of death has increased significantly, with some cases as high as 40%. Mainland research has also combined the latest data from Europe and the United States and reached similar conclusions.

Hong Kong Sleep Society representative and psychiatrist Dr. Fong Yat-yuk pointed out that if you need more sleep than the average person to feel adequate, it may indicate health problems and recommends seeking medical attention in a timely manner. He explained that the traditional concept is that "sleeping more and eating enough" is a good thing, but modern medical research shows that excessive sleep may be detrimental to health. Such studies have been conducted in Europe, America, Japan and Hong Kong, and the results generally show that excessive sleep is associated with health problems.

Dr. Fang stressed that although many studies have reached similar conclusions, such observational studies have certain limitations. Human health is affected by many factors, including genetics, living environment, habits and mental state. Even if a large number of samples are tracked for several years, only statistical correlations can be obtained, and it is difficult to determine direct cause and effect. He added: "To accurately study the relationship between sleep and health, it is ideal to track individuals throughout their entire life cycle from infancy to old age, but this is difficult to achieve in practice, so most existing studies are observational in nature."

Regarding the ideal number of hours of sleep, studies have found that sleeping less than six hours increases the risk of diabetes, because long-term lack of sleep can lead to increased fasting blood sugar and affect blood sugar stability. In addition, lack of sleep can interfere with the endocrine system and increase the risk of obesity. Dr. Fang said that sleeping too long is more likely to be a sign of health problems rather than a cause. For example, heart disease patients often need more sleep due to fatigue; sleep apnea patients prolong their sleep time due to poor sleep quality; depression patients also often experience symptoms of sleepiness; patients with serious diseases such as cancer need more rest due to physical weakness.

The latest medical guidelines suggest that adultsIdeal sleepThe sleep time is seven to eight hours, and should be in line with the body's natural rhythm. It is recommended to go to bed around 10 pm, which is beneficial to the body's organs.Get enough restDr. Fang also agrees with the benefits of moderate naps, and recommends that the nap time be controlled to 15 to 30 minutes to avoid entering deep sleep, which will cause drowsiness after waking up and affect the quality of sleep at night.

In summary, sleeping more than nine hours a day for a long time may be a warning sign of health problems. Dr. Fang reminded the public that if they find that they continue to need too much sleep, they should seek medical attention in time to find out potential health problems and prevent and treat them as soon as possible. Maintaining appropriate sleep hours and good sleep quality is essential to maintaining physical and mental health.