Taking long naps can lead to an early grave
Snoozing linked to 30% higher risk of premature death
TAKING a quick nap has long been considered a good way to recharge those batteries and get some much-needed respite from our busy schedules.
But drifting off for too long may actually be bad for your health, researchers say.
A study found that those who regularly had more than an hour’s shut-eye in the day increased their risk of an early death by 30 per cent – in particular from heart attacks and strokes.
Data pooled from 20 studies, involving more than 300,000 people, found about four in ten regularly take naps.
The reasons behind the link to early deaths are not clear but previous studies have suggested long snoozes are linked to 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.
The new study, led by the Guangzhou Medical University in China, also found the risk rises with age. Study leader Dr Zhe Pan said: ‘Daytime napping is common all over the world and is generally considered a healthy habit. ‘A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of “sleep debt”. Our study challenges these widely held opinions.’ The team found daytime naps to be less harmful for those who do not get much sleep at night. But for anyone who gets more than six hours at night, napping should be avoided or at the very least kept short. ‘If you want to take a siesta, our study indicates it’s safest to keep it under an hour,’ Dr Pan told the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
But not all research is consistent. A study last year of 3,500 people in Switzerland found napping once or twice a week cut the risk of heart attack and strokes by 48 per cent.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, of the British Heart Foundation, said of the latest study: ‘Although it suggests that daily naps of more than 60 minutes increase the risk of heart and circulatory diseases, more research is needed to understand why.’
Exercising, eating well and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol down is more important than sleeping alone, he added.
Winston Churchill famously took a two-hour siesta every afternoon which he said boosted his productivity.
And he’s not the only parliamentarian known for sneaking forty winks. Jacob Rees-Mogg was roundly criticised last year for slouching on the front benches – with many saying he looked as if he was nodding off during a Brexit debate.