It makes sense that after a short nap we wake up not knowing our name and wanting to hug the coffee maker as if nothing else existed. However, the sensations are very similar to sleep a lot Yes, it is strange. Famous sleep therapy Those that we sometimes want to subject ourselves to after a hard week usually don’t deliver what they promise. We wake up with a headache, itchy eyes, heavy legs… how is that possible?
The key is that for some things our brains are pretty square. Sleep, like other physiological processes, follows a 24-hour cycle known as circadian cyclesEvery day we fall asleep and wake up at about the same time. Or at least that’s how it should be.
When we don’t get enough sleep, our brains are in conflict because our circadian cycles are disrupted. And the reality is that when we sleep a lot, we disrupt them. Our goal is to rest, but the result is the opposite. This is the main reason why we wake up so tired, although there are others.
Don’t drive your brain crazy
Circadian rhythms are controlled by an area of the brain known as the suprachiasmatic nucleusIt acts on the basis of the signals it receives. through the retina. When light comes in, it interprets that it is daytime and therefore we should be awake. On the other hand, if there is no light, it is assumed that it is nighttime and melatonin, the hormone that helps us fall asleep, begins to be released.
In addition to light patterns, our brains can be shaped to some extent by our habits. If we wake up at 8 a.m. every day, that will be the time when our body get ready to wake upeven if it dawns a little earlier. Now, if one day we get up at 11am, it won’t be able to form so strongly.
Our cells they start to waste energy at about 8, because they are used to it. But our brain continues to go through sleep phases. This creates a contradiction that manifests itself through fatigue is very similar to a hangoverIn fact, it’s so similar to her that doctors know about the effects of too much sleep. intoxication of sleep.
Other Reasons Why Sleeping Too Much Is So Tiring
Sleep consists of phases known as REM and NREM sleep. During REM sleep, the brain is much more active. In fact, this is the phase in which dreams occur. NREM sleep, in turn, consists of four more phases: one transition phase from wakefulness to sleep, another light sleep, a third relaxation phase, and finally a deep sleep phase that precedes REM sleep. The sequence of these phases makes up a complete cycle, which on average usually lasts about 90 minutes. A person usually goes through 5 cycles in one nightwith micro-awakenings that we don’t know about each other.
However, by sleeping a lot, we chain more sleep cycles. This means that instead of waking up at the end of a cycle, as we usually do, we may do so in the middle. Perhaps even in the middle of a deep sleep phase. Because of this, our brains once again come into conflict and we feel more tired.
Consequences of Sleeping Too Much, Besides Tiredness
There are numerous studies that show that sleeping too much can cause health problems. for example, diabetes or cardiovascular diseaseBut other studies remind us that we can’t know what causes what. That is, does long sleep cause these diseases, or does the disease make us sleep more?
This is something that needs further study. However, one thing is clear: lots of sleep is not as restorative as we would like to believe. Stick to 7-9 hours recommended or at most, in extreme cases, up to 10. But don’t go any further. Above all, try to maintain a constant cycle. If you don’t, it will be completely counterproductive.
Source: Hiper Textual
