According to a recent study, afternoon naps aren’t just an indulgence-they’re a necessity. When we take moderate naps, we’re doing our health a favor.
The study was published in the Heart journal and according to the researchers; the Swiss adult individuals who took a nap or two in the day on a weekly basis experienced reduced risk of heart problems unlike those who didn’t nap.
As irregular sleep is a well-known risk for numerous health issues, including cardiovascular ones, naps can be the best tool to replace what we didn’t get in the night.
An Important Study Showing the Benefits of Napping
The participants in the study were 3500 Swiss adults between the ages of 35 and 75.
They were given instructions to give proper info about their napping habits, nighttime sleep, lifestyle, and demographics.
They also made the necessary medical testing to determine their overall health. More than 50 percent of the participants said they didn’t nap during the week prior to the study.
From the people who did nap, 667 said they napped once or twice, 411 said they take three to five naps, and 370 said they took six to seven naps.
In the 8 years of follow-ups, 155 people experienced heart issues.
According to the research team, those participants who took one or two naps per day had reduced risk of these problems unlike the ones who didn’t nap.
The link between more frequent napping and cardiovascular health wasn’t as strong.
Why Do Short Afternoon Naps Benefit Us?
Short snoozes in the afternoon period can be a good way to reduce stress and lower the negative effects of lack of night time sleep and thus, boost our cardiovascular health.
Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked with serious health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and mental distress, according to the CDC.
Therefore, naps may be a beneficial tool to mitigate the negative impact of getting less than seven or eight hours of sleep per night.
But, there Was an Exception
The study found that there is an exception for adults who’re over the age of 65- they didn’t note any cardiovascular advantages from the occasional naps.
This is maybe a result of the increased occurrence of health problems in this age, as well as the longer napping they tend to get than younger people.
Previous studies have associated longer napping with heart problems.
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