2023-04-28 05:53:27
Are you a fan of the nap following lunch? If this rest time is good for concentration and efficiency, it might have other negative consequences on health. According to a recent study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (USA), it all depends on how long this nap lasts. In fact, those who did naps of 30 minutes or more were more likely to have a higher body mass index, higher blood pressure and a host of other conditions associated with heart disease and diabetes (metabolic syndrome).
In this study, researchers assessed data from more than 3,000 adults from a Mediterranean population to examine the relationship between nap duration and obesity or metabolic syndrome. The risk did not exist for those who took short naps. These findings were published in the scientific journal Obesity.
“Not all naps are created equal. Duration, sleeping position and other specific factors can affect the health outcomes of a nap. A previous study we conducted on a large study population in the UK United had revealed that naps were associated with an increased risk of obesity. We wanted to determine if this would be true in a country where naps are more culturally ingrained, in this case Spain, as well as how nap length relates to metabolic health,” explained lead author Marta Garaulet. , Visiting Professor in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
A higher BMI
According to the study release, those who took long naps had a higher body mass index and were more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those who didn’t take naps. In addition, long nap takers had higher values for waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure. When it comes to lifestyle habits, the team also found that those who took long naps also had later sleeping and eating habits.
“This study shows the importance of considering the duration of the nap and raises the question of whether short naps can offer unique benefits. Many institutions are realizing the benefits of short naps, primarily for work productivity, but also increasingly for overall health. If future studies further confirm the benefits of shorter naps, I believe this might be the driving force behind the discovery of optimal nap times and a cultural shift in the recognition of long-term health effects and increases in productivity that can come from it,” said co-author Frank Scheer, neuroscientist.
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#Obesity #hypertension #watch #long #naps
