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What is frequent napping linked to?
People who take naps on a regular basis may be more likely to have high blood pressure, according to a study published in the September 2022 issue of Hypertension. The study included about 360,000 people without high blood pressure or a previous stroke who were followed for an average of 11 years. People who often nap have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure and having a stroke, a large new study has found. “This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night. Investigators reported that people who frequently naps may have an increased risk of high blood pressure and ischemic stroke by 12% compared to people who do not nap. It has been reported that a short nap can reduce stress and blood pressure, with the greatest decline of blood pressure being associated with vasodilation of more than 9% that occurs between the start of resting and actually falling asleep (onset of stage 1 sleep). “There is no line at which napping is too frequent.” However, Rebekah Delling, MFA, LMT, a Certified Sleep Coach and the owner of Hypnotic Massage Sleep Boutique, told Verywell that if those naps exceed 30 minutes or more several times a week, it might indicate underlying health issues and sleep deprivation. Experts say daily napping may be a sign of inadequate nighttime sleep or an underlying health problem. One expert says naps should be shorter than 30 minutes or longer than 90 minutes.
What does frequent naps mean?
“Habitual daytime naps are more likely to be indicative of sleep deficiency, chronic … disruption or a disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, depression or cancer,” Czeisler said. A long nap, such as two hours per day, could indicate sleep deprivation or another sleep disorder, which may need a doctor’s consultation. Although naps confer proven health benefits, napping regularly is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and stroke, according to a study published in Hypertension (PDF), and American Heart Association (AHA) journal. Studies show that an afternoon nap is great for adults, too. There’s no need to feel lazy for indulging in daytime sleep. A short nap in the mid-afternoon can boost memory, improve job performance, lift your mood, make you more alert, and ease stress. Napping for a Better Brain Scientists found that people who napped for 30 to 90 minutes had better word recall – which is a sign of good memory – than people who did not nap or who napped for longer than 90 minutes.
Is frequent naps bad?
Research Highlights: Frequent or usual daytime napping in adults was associated with a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure and a 24% high risk of having a stroke compared to never napping. Experts say napping, though not unhealthy, may be a sign of poor sleep quality. Those who reported sleeping nine or more hours each night had a 23% higher risk of stroke than those sleeping less than eight hours each night. Stroke risk was 25% higher among those who took midday naps for at least 90 minutes compared with those napping for less than 30 minutes. Could grabbing a nap once or twice a week help you live longer? A new study reports the occasional nap appears to cut in half people’s risk of heart attack, strokes and heart disease, compared with folks who never nap. But more frequent napping provided no benefit, researchers found. CLEVELAND – A recent study has found that older adults who regularly nap for more than an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Why am I napping multiple times a day?
Could a sudden increased need for naps indicate a health problem? If you’re experiencing an increased need for naps and there’s no obvious cause of new fatigue in your life, talk to your doctor. You could be taking a medication or have a sleep disorder or other medical condition that’s disrupting your nighttime sleep. You may be too exhausted even to manage your daily affairs. In most cases, there’s a reason for the fatigue. It might be allergic rhinitis, anemia, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease (COPD), a bacterial or viral infection, or some other health condition. Naps and Sleep Deprivation You can get incredible benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of napping, she says. You reset the system and get a burst of alertness and increased motor performance. That’s what most people really need to stave off sleepiness and get an energy boost. Frequent napping or regularly napping for extended periods during the day may be a sign of early dementia in older adults, a new study revealed. Too much light may disrupt your sleep and raise risk of heart disease and diabetes, study said. Possible culprit: A vitamin or mineral deficiency One possible reason for feeling tired, anxious, and weak is having low levels of iron, vitamin D, or B12. Many experts believe that a significant percentage of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin D.
Is frequent napping linked to poor heart health?
DALLAS, JULY 25, 2022 — Napping on a regular basis is associated with higher risks for high blood pressure and stroke, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. But naps can also have their downsides. Naps for adults should be no more than an hour and probably best kept to the 15- to 20-minute range. Anything beyond that – especially considering the time of day – could have consequences. Changes in sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, and lifestyles in older life make older adults more prone to taking naps during the daytime [4]. Older adults also take naps to counter excessive sleepiness and fatigue from comorbidities or medications [5]. Experts say daily napping may be a sign of inadequate nighttime sleep or an underlying health problem. One expert says naps should be shorter than 30 minutes or longer than 90 minutes. Researchers found that among almost 300,000 U.S. adults, those who routinely slept seven to eight hours a night were 25 percent less likely to have a stroke, compared to people who got either less or more sleep. The highest stroke risk was seen among long sleepers, who spent at least eight hours in bed each night. Some experts say the power nap should be even shorter — 20 minutes max. But all agree it shouldn’t exceed 30 minutes. That’s because the body enters a deep sleep around that time, and waking up from a deep sleep can lead to grogginess, according to the Sleep Foundation.
What happens when you take too many naps?
Some studies have suggested that taking longer naps can increase levels of inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and increased risk of death. Other research has also connected napping with high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression and anxiety. Soma Mandal, a board-certified medical internist, made it clear that sleep is needed to avoid illnesses. “Sleep is important for a variety of brain functions,” she shares. “When we take naps, especially women over 40, improves our alertness, it can provide psychological relaxation, and increase our patience.” Dr. In a new study recently published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2022), Li and colleagues report on the results of their long-term study of more than 1,400 older adults, which points to a link between excessive daytime napping and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In general, the best nap length for adults is about 20 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes. Sleeping for 20 minutes allows the napper to get a bit of light sleep to boost alertness without entering into deep sleep. Waking up from deep sleep can cause grogginess and actually worsen sleepiness. A healthy adult doesn’t need to nap, but can benefit from a nap of 10 to 20 minutes, or 90 to 120 when sleep-deprived. There is some evidence that older adults may benefit from napping for an hour in the afternoon. In part, it is physiological: Our normal circadian cycle dictates a period of sleepiness or decreased alertness in the afternoon. However, sleep disorders, medical disorders, stress, insaufficient sleep or poor eating habits can also cause excessive sleepiness at this time.
What is the health risk of napping?
According to a study published Monday in Hypertension, a journal from the American Heart Association, napping on a regular basis was associated with a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure, and a 24% higher risk of having an ischemic stroke. “There is no line at which napping is too frequent.” However, Rebekah Delling, MFA, LMT, a Certified Sleep Coach and the owner of Hypnotic Massage Sleep Boutique, told Verywell that if those naps exceed 30 minutes or more several times a week, it might indicate underlying health issues and sleep deprivation. A long nap, such as two hours per day, could indicate sleep deprivation or another sleep disorder, which may need a doctor’s consultation. If you’re experiencing an increased need for naps and there’s no obvious cause of new fatigue in your life, talk to your doctor. You could be taking a medication or have a sleep disorder or other medical condition that’s disrupting your nighttime sleep. Background It is reported that 13% to 44% of all cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) occur during sleep. In addition to other well-known risk factors, snoring, sleep apnea, obesity, and daytime sleepiness have been shown to significantly increase the risk of stroke. While a 30- to 90-minute nap in older adults appears to have brain benefits, anything longer than an hour and a half may create problems with cognition, the ability to think and form memories, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Why do naps shorten your lifespan?
Pan, but some studies have suggested that long snoozes are linked with higher levels of inflammation, which is risky for heart health and longevity. Other research has connected napping with high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor overall physical health. Naska et al. suggested that cardiovascular stress could be reduced by daytime sleep. Several studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of taking short naps less than 30 minutes in duration, which help to increase alertness and motor skills. A long nap, such as two hours per day, could indicate sleep deprivation or another sleep disorder, which may need a doctor’s consultation. Napping too long during the day, Kushida added, can disrupt overall sleep patterns. It’s generally recommended to maximize sleep at night, he said. Grandner said the exception might be if someone occasionally doesn’t sleep enough at night and needs to recoup during the day.