New Research Found Adults Who Nap Often Can Pose a Risk Of High Blood Pressure And Strokes

According to new research, people who often take naps during the daytime may be more at risk for high blood pressure and strokes.

Frequent Napping can pose a health risk:

On Monday, a new study published in an American Heart Association journal Hypertension examined 360,000 participants who provided blood, urine, and saliva samples and detailed information about their lifestyles. Participants also self-reported whether they nap "never/rarely," "sometimes," or "usually."

Scientists found that people who napped frequently were 12% more likely to develop high blood pressure and 24% more likely to have a stroke. However, that doesn't mean napping causes these health issues; instead, Napping may be due to unhealthy behaviors.

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The study found that frequent nappers reported cigarette smoking, daily drinking, insomnia, and other factors contributing to health-related issues.

The clinical instructor, department of neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Margaret Blattner, said that regular daytime naps could indicate problems with nighttime sleep or even overall health.

Blattner said, "Frequent or prolonged daytime naps can disrupt healthy nighttime sleep. Napping during the day may make it harder to fall asleep at night or cause nighttime sleep to become fragmented."

Blattner continued, "Missing out on nighttime sleep, either because busy schedules don't allow sufficient sleep opportunity, or because of a problem with the quality of sleep itself, can cause severe daytime sleepiness."

Blattner says that quality sleep is healthy and restorative for the body, so a change in sleep habits, either needing more sleep at night or Napping during the day, might signal an underlying health problem.

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She continued, "Often, prolonged naps are less restorative than more brief daytime naps, people often wake up un-refreshed or "groggy" after a long nap."

She added, "Additionally, long daytime naps take away time from other healthy things that people enjoy during the day: spending time with family, enjoying hobbies, and exercising."

When Napping during the day becomes unpredictable, uncontrollable, or prevents an individual from accomplishing what they need or want to do, it could indicate a possible sleep disorder.

Blattner suggests talking to a doctor if you're falling asleep unintentionally during the day, especially in settings like school, work, or while driving.

Taking naps can also be beneficial!

Blattner said, "Napping is not always a cause for concern. Taking a nap can be refreshing and enjoyable."

She added, "The key is, are you missing out on things that you enjoy because you are too sleepy to stay awake, that can indicate a problem, or does the nap help you get more out of your day."

Blattner continued, "Taking a brief nap can feel restorative, reduce stress, and improve focus. Early afternoon is a good time to nap, as this aligns with a circadian dip in energy. However, napping too late into the afternoon or evening may impact nighttime sleep quality and make it harder to fall asleep."