Regular Naps Could Cause These Two Health Complications

A new study involving nearly 400,000 participants showed that people who nap for extended periods during the day are more likely to develop high blood pressure and are at greater risk for stroke.

Study participants who typically napped during the day were 12% more likely to develop high blood pressure over time and were 24% more likely to have a stroke compared with people who never napped.

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Do naps actually cause health issues?

There’s a big “but” at the end of those conclusions, according to Christina Abavana, MD a sleep medicine specialist with Hartford HealthCare’s Ayer Neuroscience Institute and Tallwood Men’s Health.

“Someone who finds themselves excessively sleepy during the day, and feels the need to nap almost every day most likely has other medical conditions that are causing that,” Abavana said. “It is the reason behind the need to nap that is putting the person at risk.”

Abavana said it is not unusual for people to experience a dip in their circadian rhythms in the mid-afternoon. A short so-called “power nap” for 15 or 20 minutes around this time can be beneficial, she said.

“But if you are taking longer naps every day, this is usually a sign that something else is going on, and it is important to get medical attention,” she said.

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