- Naps lasting more than 60 minutes can increase a person’s risk of heart disease and early death, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
- The meta-analysis of the researchers found that people who took sleep were 30% more likely to experience premature death than those who did not sleep at all.
- Previous research has found findings to increase brain function and lower blood pressure. Experts say that short sleeps are best for overall health and should not be used to replace a full night of sleep.
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If you are a fan of long sleep during the day, you can re-examine your habit, according to a meta-analysis of research presented today at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
Although only the abstract of the study is currently available, the authors, who are from Guangzhou Medical University in China, shared preliminary findings, which suggested that sleeping longer than an hour puts a person at risk of heart disease and early death may increase.
The researchers looked at 20 previous studies on sleep, heart disease, and death risk, including data on 313,651 people, of whom a third (39%) reported taking regular sleep.
They concluded that naps of any duration increased the risk of death of the person by 19%, and said that it could be because participants used naps as a substitute for a full night of sleep, which is essential for all health.
But people who took long naps, of 60 minutes or longer, had the highest risk, they said. According to the study, these people were 30% more likely to die prematurely, and 34% more likely to develop heart disease, than people who did not beat at all.
The study’s findings build on existing research suggesting that long sleep may contribute to inflammation, high blood pressure and diabetes, according to lead study author Dr. Zhe Pan. At the same time, the results are in conflict with research that naps have been found to improve brain function and lower blood pressure.
Short naps can improve heart health for people who do not get enough sleep
There was one nap-positive finding in the new study: short naps in the 30- to 45-minute range can improve a person’s heart health.
“The results suggest that shorter sleeps can improve heart health in people who do not get enough sleep at night,” as opposed to longer sleeps that can increase inflammation and clutter with a person’s night’s sleep, Pan said. e release.
Earlier research found a 60 minute afternoon nap could lower a person’s blood pressure almost as much as blood pressure medication can. If a person’s blood pressure is too high, it can lead to a heart attack.
The study had warnings. Because it was an analysis of previous studies, it is possible that other factors such as lifestyle, age, or underlying circumstances of participants contributed to the results. Therefore, the authors of the study can not say that there is a direct link between naps and heart disease as a death risk.
Naps should not replace consistent full nights sleep
Other research has found that duds are beneficial for brain function, but it all depends on the duration of sleep and how it is used.
If a person consistently uses a sleep aid to lose sleep at night, it is likely that their nap is detrimental to their health.
“A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative effects of ‘sleep debt’. Our study challenges these wide-ranging opinions,” Pan, the study’s new author, said in a press release.
Indeed, the authors of a December 2016 study found naps between 30 and 60 minutes improved concentration and memory formation in adults 65 and older. But longer sleep had the opposite effect, reducing the participants’ cognitive capacities.
“I consider sleep to be a good thing, but it should be taken in the context of the person and his or her own sleep cycle and body,” said Drs. Charlene Gamaldo, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, in an article analyzing the 2016 study.
Prolonged sleep can interfere with a person’s nightly sleep routine and lead to lost sleep, which can increase a person’s blood pressure and contribute to overall poorer health outcomes, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
For this reason, the American Sleep Association recommends keeping afternoon naps short, and focusing on full nights sleep that begins and ends at the same time each day.
And if you need an afternoon nap here and there, that’s OK according to ASA.
