Study of 90,000 people identifies the worst time of day to nap which could cause early death
New research has suggested the dangers of napping during the day, as short sleeps at the wrong time and for worrying lengths can reportedly lead to a premature death.
It seems like for most people you're either a napper or you're not, with those who fall into the former group likely to rely on sleep top-ups during the day to help them remain active.
Scientists have previously outlined the dangers of napping in specific circumstances, including on a plane after consuming alcohol, but a new study has brought forward more concerning trends that might make you think twice about hitting the hay in the middle of the day.
What does the new study say about napping?
As reported by the Daily Mail, research conducted by experts from the Massachusetts General Hospital has looked at the sleeping habits of 86,000 adults with an average age of 63 years old over an 11-year period.
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Participants in the study were asked to wear a health tracking device for a week during the lengthy trial, which was then used to monitor their sleep for any concerning patterns or trends.
What the research revealed was that participants who napped between the period of midday and early afternoon appeared to have a far higher risk of premature death, and napping for longer than 30 minutes also increases the chance of health complications.
It was indicated that 5,189 of the 86,000 participants died during the study, representing around six percent of the overall group, and scientists appeared to observe the aforementioned napping trends as a common occurrence within the data collected from those who passed away.
How reliable is the new study's information?
One thing that might make you feel a bit better if you currently nap during the day is that scientists aren't quite convinced of the link between the participants death and their napping habits, and can't quite work out the cause and effect.
While these napping trends persisted even after accounting for factors like age, sex, weight, and other harmful habits like smoking or alcohol consumption, it's unclear exactly what napping would do that would prove so harmful to your health.
It's more likely that napping during the day and for longer periods of time are a sign or side effect of other health concerns that would be at the heart of a premature death, and that the napping itself wasn't the critical factor.
Information from both the NHS and American Academy of Sleep Medicine also contradict this study, proposing that napping in the period between midday and mid-afternoon is actually the best period if you were to head for a short sleep.
It's perhaps best to interpret this study as 'proof' of the link between irregular sleeping habits and other concerning health problems then, although sometimes maybe you just like a bit of extra sleep to reset during the day.