Stating that oversleeping can be a harbinger of disease as well as insomnia, experts recommend consulting a specialist if it interferes with one's work and social life. According to experts stating that oversleeping occurs mostly in sleep apnea, it is important to treat the underlying disease in a timely manner.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Neurology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Metin said that oversleeping as well as insomnia can be a harbinger of some psychiatric diseases.
What should be the duration of sleep?
Stating that sleep duration varies from person to person, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Metin said, "There are healthy individuals who sleep up to 12 hours a night. In order for oversleeping to be considered a disease, it must first disrupt the daytime functions of the person and interfere with work and social life. If you feel excessive sleepiness during the daytime, if you have sleep attacks that you cannot prevent, if you fall asleep involuntarily while working, you should definitely see a doctor."
You may have sleep apnea or narcolepsy!
Noting that excessive sleep is seen in many diseases, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Metin said, "We most commonly see excessive sleepiness in the condition called sleep apnea. In sleep apnea, it is not possible to sleep efficiently due to breathing stops at night and too much daytime sleepiness occurs. In addition, in the disease called narcolepsy, there are sudden suppressive sleep attacks. Parkinson's patients may also experience sleep attacks due to the course of the disease and the side effects of the medications used. In addition to these, especially drugs used in psychiatry can cause excessive sleep as a side effect."
Specialist should be consulted
Stating that the causes of excessive sleepiness are various, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Metin said, "It should be understood exactly what the patient's problem is. In case of excessive sleep, a doctor specialized in sleep disorders should be consulted."