A consultant explains the reasons for increasing sleep hours and feeling lethargic during the winter

Consultant in chest diseases and sleep medicine, Dr. Saad Al-Sharif, explained the most important factors that contribute to increasing sleep hours and feeling lethargic during the winter. Al-Sharif said, in an intervention on the Al-Ikhbariya channel: The feeling of lethargy varies from one person to another, as some are affected by this, and the average increases. He sleeps for about 60 minutes, explaining that this is affected by a number of factors, including the short daylight hours in winter and the delay in sunlight.

He added that this leads to a decrease in the production of the hormone serotonin, which is responsible for improving mood and feeling of energy and activity. It also leads to an increase in the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for sleep, which makes a person feel sleepy and lethargic.

Al-Sharif added that other reasons include low temperature, which increases the desire to sleep. Also, cold weather makes people tend to sit indoors and reduce physical and motor activity, which leads to lethargy.

He pointed out that among other reasons, in the winter, people tend to eat foods rich in calories, which leads to people feeling more lethargic.