The Common Sleep Habit That ‘May Increase Your Risk For Silent Killers’

A SNOOZE on the sofa is something we’re all guilty of from time to time.

But if you’re a serial sleeper, it might be time to take a look at your sleep habits.

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Studies have shown that napping can be a risk factor for deadly diseases, including silent killers like high blood pressure.

It’s not good for heart health.

But the evidence is mixed, with some studies suggesting tipping is good for you.

Experts say the inconsistency could be because studies haven’t always accounted for how long naps were or why.

In general, it is believed that the shorter the nap, the better.

There is a lack of research on napping, despite it being one of the most common sleep habits and sometimes a daily habit.

A nap in itself is not thought to be bad for you and in some cases helps restore focus and well-being.

However, if a person naps regularly because they are so tired that they have trouble staying awake, this could indicate sleep deprivation.

The occasional bad night’s sleep – and then a nap – won’t kill you.

But chronic bad sleepers are more likely to develop health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Studies also show they are more likely to see an early grave.

A nap can be a warning sign that you’re not getting enough sleep.

Here are the dangers it has been linked to.

Fatty liver disease

The most recent study, published in August 2022, examined the self-reported sleep behavior of more than 5,000 Chinese adults with fatty liver disease.

Researchers found that napping more than 30 minutes a day, snoring and a late bedtime were linked to a higher risk of disease, which at worst can lead to liver failure.

The author of the study, Dr. However, Yan Liu of Sun Yat-sen University said: “Our study found that a moderate improvement in sleep quality was associated with a 29 percent reduction in the risk of fatty liver disease.

“Given that large proportions of people suffering from poor sleep quality are underdiagnosed and undertreated, our study calls for more research into this area and strategies to improve sleep quality.”

heart attack and stroke

Researchers from Xiangya Hospital Central South University studied 360,000 people in the UK aged between 40 and 69.

Between 2006 and 2019, the participants provided information about their sleeping habits, among other things.

They were each followed up for an average of 11 years.

Regular napping has been linked to high blood pressure, the “silent killer” that contributes to strokes and heart attacks.

People who “usually” napped had a 12 percent higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those who never napped.

Their risk of stroke was 24 percent higher.

The corresponding author of the study, Dr. E. Wang said, “a nap in itself is not harmful.”

However, it can be a sign that someone is sleeping poorly at night, which in itself is linked to worse health outcomes.

Type 2 diabetes

A 2016 Japanese study showed that napping and being excessively tired during the day increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50 percent.

The results come from the analysis of 21 observational studies involving more than 300,000 people.

Researchers saw an association between long daytime naps (over an hour) and a 45 percent increased risk of diabetes compared to no daytime naps.

However, there was no association with naps shorter than 40 minutes, and researchers said these may be helpful in increasing alertness.

A nap can be a sign that a person has a disruptive sleep disorder that is also linked to type 2 diabetes, such as: B. Sleep apnea.

Fatigue can also be an early sign that someone has type 2 diabetes but hasn’t been diagnosed yet.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic but manageable condition, but people with diabetes are more likely to develop other fatal diseases or have a heart attack or stroke.

dementia

Elderly people are chronic nappers and take daily naps in front of the TV.

A 2022 study led by UC San Francisco and Harvard Medical School suggests that napping too much could predict risk of Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

In the study, researchers tracked data from 1,401 seniors who wore a watch-like device that tracked their movements throughout the day.

About 24 percent of the people had normal cognition at the start of the study, but developed Alzheimer’s six years later.

They were compared to those whose cognition remained stable, and differences in sleeping habits were found.

Participants who napped for more than an hour a day had a 40 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who slept less than an hour a day.

And participants who napped at least once a day had a 40 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s than those who napped less than once a day.

early grave

A study in China examined the available evidence through 2020 to assess the relationship between napping and the risks of death and heart disease.

A total of 313,651 participants from more than 20 studies were included in the analysis, 39 percent of whom napped.

Overall, naps of any length were associated with a 19 percent increased risk of death.

However, short naps (less than 60 minutes) were not risky and may therefore be beneficial for those who do not get enough sleep.

dr Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University said longer kips may be linked to inflammation, according to previous research.

He said at the ESC Congress 2020: “If you want to take a siesta, according to our study, it is safest to keep it under an hour.

“For those of us who aren’t used to sleeping during the day, there’s no compelling evidence to start with.”