Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Sleep? More Research Needed To Determine Health Risks For Long Sleepers

News on the science of rest focuses on the health impact of sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night, the sleep needs of teens, snoring, changing patterns as adults age, and the risks of sleep aids.

The Washington Post: Do You Sleep Long Hours? Many Experts Say It’s Benign, But Others Aren’t Sure. Tracey Thomsen Anderson, 57, a retired ad agency copywriter from Colorado Springs, sleeps nine or 10 hours every night, and has done so her entire life. “My ability to sleep through ridiculous circumstances was legendary as a kid — parties, fireworks, I slept through a car wreck once,” she says. “I can get by on eight for a day or two, but I feel like a zombie all day with anything less than nine.” (Cimons, 2/9)

The Washington Post: Teenage Sleep Can Be Harmed By Early School Time At first, Lilly Grey Rudge objected to her classes starting later. Delaying the first-period bell nearly an hour until 8:45 a.m. meant that her mother could no longer drive her, and Lilly Grey would have to take two buses to Ballard High in Seattle. Now, more than two years since the change, the 16-year-old junior is a fan. (Cohen, 2/9)

The Washington Post: Snoring Can Be Sign Of Bigger Problems. Here’s What To Do About It. Snoring is the top reason that patients come to see Jennifer Hsia, a sleep surgeon at University of Minnesota Health in Minneapolis. Most of the time, they come in not because they are worried about their health, but because their partner has been complaining about the noise.

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