Forty-minute naps during daytime can increase the risk of premature deaths. This was the latest finding of the research conducted by a team of scientists.
Daily Mail reported that sleeping for short periods during the day can lead to developing a metabolic syndrome. This is said to include high blood pressure and cholesterol, too much fat around the waist and high blood sugar.
The study, which is expected to be presented to the America College of Cardiology's 65th annual scientific show, looked into more 300,000 individuals who were included in various observational studies.
According to Daily Mail, the respondents were asked if they feel tired during the day and if they experience feeling sleepy. They were also questioned about their naps during daytime.
The answers were reportedly compared to their medical history of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. "Their results showed a J-shaped relationship between the time spent napping and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome," notes Daily Mail.
Lead author and diabetologist Dr. Yamada said that distinguishing the relationship between naps and metabolic diseases would help develop treatments for these. "Sleep is an important component of our healthy lifestyle, as well as diet and exercise. Short naps might have a beneficial effect on our health, but we don't yet know the strength of that effect or the mechanism by which it works," Dr. Yamada added.
Meanwhile, Independent highlighted that when people take long naps, their body is fooled into thinking that it is already "entering a deep sleep." So when people wake up from a nap, their metabolic cycle seems unsettled. "Whereas with short naps, the body does not enter a deep sleep phase and so does not experience this jolt," the same report reveals.
The researchers furthered that future studies on the benefits of short naps and the links between long naps and metabolic syndrome should also be done. Daily Mail said these would help doctors determine health problems using a person's nap habits.
