A quick afternoon getaway, a means of rejuvenation, or simply a soothing break during a busy day, napping has long been considered a small luxury. We’ve been raised to view siestas as beneficial, and who doesn’t like a little nap after lunch? But a new study from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital is making us look at naps a little differently.
This large-scale research tracked over 86,000 adults, using wearable sleep trackers to get an accurate picture of their daily habits. The study ran for 11 years, and what it found was surprising. Individuals with erratic nap habits, frequent long naps, or heavy midday naps had a significantly increased chance of dying from any cause.
At first, that sounds concerning, but the researchers quickly stress that naps are not the bad guy.
It’s more about what your nap patterns might be saying about your overall health.
Why Certain Naps Could Be a Health Warning
Most research in the past depended on participants describing their own napping patterns, which isn’t necessarily reliable. This time, however, researchers employed wearable technology to gather actual data regarding nap duration, timing, and daily consistency. Their understanding of the potential relationship between various nap styles and long-term health improved significantly as a result.
According to the findings, there was a 14–20% increased risk of death for those who rested for more than 30 minutes or had significantly variable sleep timings every day. Particularly, naps between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when most people are naturally drowsy, were associated with increased health risks.
But here’s the catch.
The study doesn’t say naps are causing health problems. Rather, these napping habits may indicate another disease, such as cardiac problems, sleep apnea, early dementia, or poor nocturnal sleep.
How you slumber matters more than whether you nap at all.
Not all snoozes are created equal. Consistently getting fewer than 30 minutes of sleep is still seen to be ideal. Your focus, mood, and level of alertness could all be considerably improved by taking these power naps.
When naps became longer, more frequent, or more irregular, the problem began.
That kind of irregular daytime sleep might be throwing off your natural body clock or trying to make up for serious issues with your nighttime sleep.
Dr. Hassan Dashti, one of the researchers behind the study, explained it clearly: “We’re not saying naps are bad. We’re saying that how and when you nap could reflect bigger health concerns.”
What Is the Process?
You could be receiving a signal from your body that you need some help. A physician or sleep specialist has to be seen in order to exclude any medical condition.
Do not sleep for extended time frames in the daytime, and maintain a regular sleep pattern at night.
Not giving up naps entirely is the goal.
The objective is to ensure that your naps are helpful rather than revealing hidden problems.
In the end, a nap should leave you feeling refreshed rather than nervous.
