Sleeping too much sounds comfortable, but many people experience severe headache, heaviness or dizziness after sleeping for a long time. The reason for this is not just “sleeping too much”, but there is a sudden change in the biological clock of the body, chemical activity of the brain and lifestyle factors. Too much sleep disturbs the natural rhythm of the body, due to which headache is common. Let us understand in detail why this happens.
According to Healthline report, there is an internal clock in our body which is called circadian rhythm. It tells us when we should sleep and when we should wake up. When you sleep longer than usual, this rhythm gets disturbed. Due to this, hormones like serotonin, melatonin and dopamine become unbalanced in the brain. These are the same chemicals that regulate mood, sleep and pain. Their imbalance causes headache, lethargy and mental fogginess.
change in blood flow in the brain
Too much sleep also affects blood circulation in the brain. According to research, when you sleep for a long time, the brain goes into an “over-relaxed” mode, which increases the pressure on the nerves and causes slight dilation in the blood vessels of the head. This expansion can trigger migraine, especially in people who already suffer from migraine. Therefore, lying in bed for a long time can further increase the headache.
Dehydration and blood sugar fluctuations
Many times, sleeping too much causes dehydration in the body, because by sleeping for a long time you do not drink water, which leads to dehydration. Dehydration itself is a big headache trigger. On the other hand, sleeping for too long also makes the blood sugar level irregular. Due to this, the brain does not get the necessary energy and one feels pain or heaviness in the head. This problem is especially prevalent in those people who eat dinner late at night or take breakfast late in the morning.
Muscle stiffness and wrong position
Sleeping in the same posture for a long time affects the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back. When the neck muscles become tight, it directly affects the nerves of the head, causing tension headache. If you sleep on your stomach, use a pillow that is too high or sleep on an uncomfortable mattress, headaches can worsen if you sleep too much.
When can too much sleep be dangerous?
If you have a headache every morning when you wake up, and you have to sleep for more than 9 hours, then it
– hypothyroid
– depression
– sleep apnea
– Vitamin B12 deficiency
– There may also be a sign of iron deficiency and in such a case it is important to consult a doctor.
