HEALTH TIP

Snooze Too Much? Excess Napping Could Lead toEarly Death

Those who nap more on average have a greater risk of developinghigh blood pressure and stroke, according to a new analysis backed by the American HeartAssociation.
Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which areleading causes of death in the US.

Geriatricresearchers looked at the sleep habits and medical histories of some 360,000people in the UK, courtesy of the UK Biobank patient survey database, and foundthat participantswho took naps on most days saw a 24% increase in their likelihood of stroke, andwere 12% more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension over time.

The nap factorwas even more worrisome in those aged 60 and under, as napping most days led toa 20% higher chance of developing high blood pressure.

The study alsohighlights a correlation between regular napping and smoking cigarettes, dailyalcohol consumption, snoring, insomnia and people who claim to be night owls.

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