By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jul 24, 2025
We all know too little sleep is bad for us. But what if you're sleeping more than 9 hours a night? Is that harmful too? Here's what sleep science says
Sleep is as vital as food and exercise—boosting memory, mood, recovery, and brain function. Adults need 7–9 hours nightly for good health.
Short-term sleep loss causes fatigue and poor focus. Long-term, it ups your risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and early death.
Sleeping over 9 hours nightly was linked to a 34% higher risk of death vs. 7–8 hours, a major review found—but other factors may be involved.
Oversleeping is linked to poor health, but not necessarily the cause—chronic illness, pain, or medication often lead to longer sleep durations.
Oversleeping may signal your body needs recovery—or it could reflect poor sleep quality, depression or habits like smoking, weight gain or inactivity.
Teens need 8–10 hours and tend to sleep late. Adults require 7–9 hours. Seniors may be in bed longer, but their sleep needs stay the same.
Sleep quality and routine matter as much as duration. A regular schedule and healthy habits help—feeling refreshed matters more than the clock.
Aim for 7–9 hours with a regular schedule. Sleeping much more consistently could signal an underlying health issue—don’t ignore it.
Be active, get sunlight, and create a dark, cool, quiet sleep space. Skip screens before bed & unwind with a calm routine—quality sleep matters most.