How to Know You Have Been Sleeping Too Long

Most experts agree that the average adult requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Although sleeping needs vary from person to person, deviations from a normal sleeping pattern may indicate an underlying health problem. Insomnia is treated to help sleep-deprived patients sleep through the night; however, studies reveal that oversleeping may also have health consequences. Follow these steps to to identify if you have been sleeping too long.

Things You'll Need

• Sleep journal

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Instructions

• 1

  Keep a sleep journal and record the times you go to bed and when you wake up. Note times when you wake up in the middle of the night and how long it takes to fall back to sleep, especially if you are awake for more than a few minutes. This will help you to assess the average hours of sleep per night.

• 2

  Observe your emotional, physical, and psychological states. Depression and other medical conditions -- such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes -- can cause oversleeping. Sleeping too long can cause you to be groggy and accident prone. See your doctor immediately if you notice a change in your health.

• 3

  Follow your doctor's advice to maintain a healthy sleep level. If your doctor recommends a sleep test, call your insurance company to ask if the cost is covered, as these overnight tests are detailed and expensive. Sleep clinics have diagnostic testing methods to determine if you have sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or other issues that affect the quality and duration of sleep.