Are You Sleeping Too Much?

Did you know that oversleeping can be bad for you? Take the test to find out if your sleeping patterns are doing you more harm than good

Nailing your sleep routine is a tricky business. A study* has found that getting too much sleep could put you at risk of an early death just as much as getting too little. Experts discovered that those who sleep for more than eight hours a night have a greater mortality risk than those who sleep for less than seven hours, because oversleeping causes lack of exercise and raises the risk of heart attacks. But with too little sleep being linked to similar health problems, as well as depression and anxiety, how do you know if you’re getting the right kind – and the right amount – of sleep? Take our quiz and pick up some of sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan’s top tips…

THE FOUR STAGES OF SLEEP

1 NREM 1 or falling asleep (10 mins): Quite alert and easily woken.

2 NREM 2 or light sleep (20 mins): Brain waves slow down.

3 NREM 3 or deep sleep (50 mins in first cycle, gradually lessening): The start of deep sleep, harder to be woken up. No eye movement or muscle activity. The body repairs muscles and tissues, stimulates growth and development and boosts immune function and energy.