People who nap frequently during the day may be more likely to develop certain cardiovascular issues, according to new research. A new study has linked frequent naps to an increased risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
Is it good to nap?
However, naps aren’t inherently bad, according to researchers; rather, frequent naps may be an indication of other issues, such as less-than-optimal nighttime sleep. People who don’t get enough sleep may nap more during the day to compensate for lost time. Even people who get enough sleep may be getting poor quality sleep.
Here’s what experts have to say about how sleep can harm your health and what factors are linked to poor sleep.
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Factors linked to poor sleep
Sleep deprivation and cardiovascular disease
Those who said they napped “usually” had a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure and a 24% higher risk of having a stroke than those who said they never napped.
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Researchers also discovered that regular nappers were more likely to be male, to have lower education and income levels. And to have certain lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, daily drinking, insomnia, snoring, and identifying as evening people. However, the study’s authors and experts argue that napping isn’t necessarily harmful; rather, more frequent naps may result in less restful nighttime sleep.
The authors of the study also speculate that napping and poor sleep may increase inflammation in the body. Or that there may be long-term consequences to interfering with the body’s natural blood pressure rhythm by napping.
Blood pressure rises upon waking, peaks and valleys during the day, then drops sharply to its lowest point during sleep, depending largely on mental and physical activity. Also Read Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure: How to Accurately Measure it?
Not all naps are dangerous to one’s health
There is a distinction between napping all the time because you can’t get through the day and taking a short break. With this in mind.
It’s worth noting that the study’s authors identified some limitations in their data. Such as the lack of information on nap length and the fact that napping was self-reported, which means the information provided could be inaccurate.
When and how to Nap?
Take a nap between 1 and 3 p.m. Humans have a natural slump during these hours. If you try to nap earlier, your body may not be ready for more sleep, and if you nap later, it may disrupt your nighttime sleep.
Set up your environment in the same way you would for sleeping at night: make it as dark, cool, and quiet as possible. If an eye mask or a white noise machine help, use them.
You might prefer to nap on a couch or in a comfortable chair rather than in your bed. You don’t want to get too comfortable and sleep for too long, as this may make waking up difficult. Also Read Is it possible to get diabetes from eating too much sugar?
