A SNOOZE on the sofa is something we’re all guilty of from time to time.
But if you’re a serial napper, it may be time to take a look at your sleeping habits.
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Studies have shown that falling asleep while you are sleeping can lead to silent killers, such as high bloodpressure and other deadly diseases.
It doesn’t fare favourably for heart health.
However, the evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest that a kip can be good for you.
Experts say the inconsistency may be because studies haven’t always taken into account how long naps were or the reason for them.
It is generally believed that the longer the nap, the better.
Although napping is a common habit and a daily routine, there has not been much research on it.
It’s not thought that napping itself is bad for you, and in some cases, helps to restore focus and wellbeing.
But, if someone is taking naps because they are too tired to be awake, this could be a sign of sleep deprivation.
A bad night’s sleep now and again – and a subsequent nap – isn’t going to kill you.
Chronically poor sleepers are more susceptible to developing health conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
They are also more likely to die young, according to studies.
Napping can be a sign that you aren’t getting enough sleep.
These are the dangers that it is linked to.
Fatal liver disease
The latest study, published August 2022 looked at the self-reported sleeping habits of more than 5,000 Chinese people with fatty liver disease.
Researchers found that people who snore, nap for longer than 30 minutes per night, or have a late bedtime, are at greater risk of contracting the disease.
But study author Dr Yan Liu of Sun Yat-sen University said: “Our study found a moderate improvement in sleep quality was related to a 29 per cent reduction in the risk for fatty liver disease.
“Given that large proportions of subjects suffering from poor sleep quality are underdiagnosed and undertreated, our study calls for more research into this field and strategies to improve sleep quality.”
Stroke and heart attack
Researchers from Xiangya Hospital Central South University examined 360,000 British citizens aged 40-69 years.
The participants gave information about their sleeping habits between 2006 and 2019.
Each was followed up for an average 11-year period.
High blood pressure was associated with frequent napping. “silent killer”which can cause strokes and heart attacks.
People who “usually”High blood pressure is more common in those who take a nap than in those who do not.
Their stroke risk was 24% higher.
The study’s corresponding author, Dr E Wang said “taking a nap itself is not harmful”.
It could be an indication that someone is having a bad night’s sleep which can lead to worse health outcomes.
Type 2 Diabetes
In a Japanese study, 50% of people who nap or are tired throughout the day increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
These results were based on 21 observational studies that included more than 300,000.
Researchers discovered a link between long-term naps (of over one hour) and an increased risk of diabetes by 45 percent compared to those who slept during the day.
Researchers said that naps less than 40 min were not associated with alertness, but they may have been beneficial in increasing alertness.
Napping can be a sign of a disruptive sleep disorder. This is often linked to type 2 diabetes like sleep apnoea.
Type 2 diabetes can also be detected early in the body by fatigue.
Type 2 diabetes, which is a chronic condition that can be managed, is more common than other deadly diseases.
Dementia
Chronic nappers are older people who snooze at night in front of the television every day.
Harvard Medical School and UC San Francisco conducted a 2022 study that found excessive napping could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia.
Researchers tracked the movements of 1,401 seniors over the course of the day using data from a watch-like device.
Some 24 per cent of people had normal cognition at the start of the study but developed Alzheimer’s six years later.
They were compared to people whose cognition was stable. Also, differences in napping habits were noted.
Participants who napped more than an hour a day had a 40 per cent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who napped less than an hour a day.
And participants who napped at least once a day had a 40 per cent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who napped less than once a day.
Early grave
One Chinese study examined the evidence up to 2020 to determine if napping is linked to all-cause death or heart disease.
There were 313,651 participants in more than 20 studies, and 39% of them took naps.
A 19% increase in the risk of death was associated with any length of naps.
Short naps (less than 60 minutes) were not risky, however, and therefore may benefit those who don’t get enough sleep.
Dr Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University said longer kips may be linked to inflammation, according to prior research.”
He said at ESC Congress 2020: “If you want to take a siesta, our study indicates it’s safest to keep it under an hour.
“For those of us not in the habit of a daytime slumber, there is no convincing evidence to start.”