Sneaking a nap during the daytime sounds like a very good steal, doesn’t it?
But did you know that napping when the sun’s shining can be a clear indication of high blood pressure? Yes, you heard it right!
Taking frequent naps during the day is associated with high blood pressure and can eventually cause a stroke.
You might be more at risk for high blood pressure if you frequently drift asleep during the day.
Researchers examined 360,000 people from the United Kingdom for a study that was published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension. They discovered that people who regularly napped during the day had a 24% higher risk of having a stroke and a 12% higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
For those under 60, the risk of high blood pressure was significantly greater.
They said that while taking naps regularly is not dangerous, many people who do so may make up for poor nighttime sleep, which has been linked to worse health.
Researchers used data from UK Biobank for the study. A half million UK participants’ anonymous genetic, lifestyle, and health data are included in this sizable biological database and research tool.
More than 500,000 people in the United Kingdom between the ages of 40 and 69 were enrolled in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010. Regular blood, urine, and saliva samples were given by the subjects, along with thorough life history information. A tiny percentage of UK Biobank members underwent the daytime napping frequency survey 4 times between 2006 and 2019.
Records of those who had already suffered a stroke or had high blood pressure before the study’s commencement were omitted by Wang’s team.
In this study, we analyzed results from about 360,000 people followed for an average of 11 years to determine the relationship between napping and strokes or high blood pressure signs for the first time. Based on how often they self-reported taking naps, participants were split into three groups: “never/rarely,” “occasionally,” and “frequently.”
The study discovered:
- Compared to never- or sometimes-nappers, a greater proportion of habitual nappers were men, had lower levels of education and income, and reported daily drinking, cigarette smoking, snoring, insomnia, and being an evening person.
- Compared to those who said they never slept, persons who habitually napped had a 24% higher chance of having a stroke and a 12% higher chance of getting high blood pressure.
- When compared to participants the same age who never slept, those who regularly napped had a 20% greater chance of having high blood pressure.
- A majority of participants (about three-fourths) remained in the same napping category throughout the study.
- According to the Mendelian randomization analysis, the risk of high blood pressure increased by 40% if napping frequency increased by one category (from never to sometimes or sometimes to usually). Those who usually napped after age 60 were 10% more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than those who never napped. A higher frequency of naps was linked to a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure risk.
The experts advise more research into the relationships between a heart-healthy sleep schedule, including daytime naps. The study has a few significant limitations that need to be taken into account. There is little knowledge of how or if napping duration influences blood pressure or stroke risks because researchers only recorded how frequently people napped during the day, not how long they slept.
Additionally, as nap frequency was self-reported without any testing, estimations cannot be quantified. The majority of the research participants were middle-aged and older people of European descent, thus it’s possible that the findings can’t be generalized. Last but not the least, researchers have not yet figured out the biochemical mechanism underlying the impact of daytime naps on blood pressure control or stroke.
A word from the doctor —
At first glance, napping doesn’t seem unusual, therefore it’s unclear how broadly these study findings might apply.
So, sleep properly to maintain your health!
If you have a concern regarding your heart health or want to know more, make an appointment with Dr. Sanul Corrielus now!
