It is hard to believe the luxury of sleeping-in may be a cause for alarm, but according to new research, oversleeping may lead to an increased risk of an early death.

A study by the University of Sydney (published in the PLOS journal on December 8, 2015), investigating lifestyle behaviours of over 200,000 people from NSW over a six-year period, found oversleeping regularly caused a 44 per cent increased risk of death.

Study author, Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Sydney, explained, “One of the possible explanations [of oversleeping] is ‘reverse causality’. Long sleeping times could be indicative of an underlying, undiagnosed disease,” (Sydney Morning Herald, December 10, 2015, http://bit.ly/1m6mOxL).

Associate Professor Stematakis suggests oversleeping could be an indication of more serious health complications such as depression or hypersomnia. In addition, oversleeping can be the result of physical and emotional exhaustion or physical growth.Although, health experts normally suggest adults sleep approximately eight hours each night, it’s important to note the amount of sleep a person requires varies significantly, and depends on a number of factors including age, lifestyle habits and overall health.

Although, health experts normally suggest adults sleep approximately eight hours each night, it’s important to note the amount of sleep a person requires varies significantly, and depends on a number of factors including age, lifestyle habits and overall health.

The online health and science website, Medical Daily  have formulated a list of tips for individuals to improve their sleeping habits, these include:

1. Reduce medications that cause drowsiness – If you are currently prescribed with medication that causes drowsiness, to prevent oversleeping and with the approval of your doctor, reduce your dosage;
2. Soak up natural light – A human body’s circadian rhythm – the physical, emotional and behavioural changes, which occur in reaction to light and darkness – plays a key role in sleeping habits. To reduce oversleeping, time your body clock to wake up with the sunrise and sleep when the sun has set;
3. Stand up and wake up – Put your alarm clock out of your arm’s reach because this will encourage you to get out of bed and resist the urge to snooze; and
4. Create a sleep schedule and stick to it – When planning your week allocate time to ensure you are getting the correct amount of sleep you require and be sure to stick to your plan!

To learn more about this topic and find more tips on how to cure your drowsy ways, head to http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/physical-side-effects-oversleeping.