Too much napping can signal problems
You may think of a catnap as a short snooze, but cats are actually super sleepers, often slumbering for 12 to 18 hours a day. That’s healthy for them, but for humans, sleeping more than an hour while the sun shines can be a sign of developing liver problems, according to a study in BMC Gastroenterology. It found that compared with folks who don’t nap, those who slept for 60 minutes or more in the daytime have a 200 percent increased risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — a potentially serious condition that afflicts an estimated 25 percent of U.S. adults and often goes undiagnosed. So if you’re taking hour-long snoozes during the day, inform your doctor so he or she can check.
From long naps to long COVID-19: Ten percent to 30 percent of folks who’ve had COVID-19 will develop long COVID-19. They have a 63 percent increased risk of heart attack and a 52 percent increased risk of stroke, compared with folks who never caught the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says breathing exercises; sitting aerobic and strength-building exercises, initially, and then walking and standing workouts; and the use of medications such as anti-hypertensives can help reduce your risks.
How chronic inflammation spreads
When researchers in a new study, published in the journal Cell, looked at inflammatory conditions like gum disease, arthritis and heart disease, they found that they can ignite inflammation in other, seemingly unconnected, parts of your body. That’s why people with gum disease often develop cardiovascular problems or arthritis, or those with arthritis are more likely to also end up with gum disease.
But how does that happen? It seems that your immune system — when revved up by one of those inflammatory conditions — gets turned on to such a degree that the newborns in your bone marrow’s immune cell nursery are supercharged when they emerge and enter your bloodstream. Instead of battling outside invaders (bacteria and viruses), they become troublemakers — causing inflammation in your cardiovascular system, joints, gums and elsewhere.
That’s why chronic inflammation needs to be avoided — or put out. To do that, you need a balance of enough physical exercise, restful sleep, smart stress management and a diet loaded with colorful fruits and vegetables, omega-3-rich fish like salmon and 100 percent whole grains.