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Image: RgStudio / IStock.com via AFP Relaxnews
A meta-analysis presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology suggests that excessively long naps can be detrimental to cardiovascular health in people who sleep more than six hours a night.
Whether it’s a nap after a copious Sunday lunch, 40 low-key winks during lunchtime, or a long nap on vacation, many of us love to take a nap, and nap is the norm in many parts of the world. However, it has long been known that sleeping too much can have negative consequences. In particular, scientific studies have shown that it can be detrimental to cardiovascular health.
But why is oversleeping bad for your health? And if that’s the case, how are people supposed to make up for lost sleep? This week, a group of Chinese researchers, who set out to explore these questions in a large-scale meta-analysis, presented their findings at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
In light of their analysis, which examined data from about 20 previous studies involving a total of 313,651, the researchers concluded that naps longer than 60 minutes are associated with a 34% higher chance of cardiovascular disease, as well as 30% more. increased risk of death from all causes. However, they also found that these negative findings do not apply to people who sleep less than six hours a night.
“The results suggest that shorter naps (especially those of less than 30 to 45 minutes) may improve heart health in people who get enough sleep at night,” says Dr. Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University, China, who led the study.
Questions remain as to why oversleeping can have a negative impact on health. Some studies have linked long naps with higher levels of inflammation that can affect heart health and reduce longevity. Other research has associated them with hypertension, diabetes and, in general, poor physical health.
“If you want to take a nap, our study indicates that it is safer to keep it under an hour. For those of us who are not in the habit of a daytime sleep, there is no convincing evidence to begin with, ”the study authors conclude. JB
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