If you feel like you have been missing out on those crucial hours of sleep, then it is time you start taking those mid-day naps seriously. New research, published in the journal Heart, [1]suggests that napping can help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
In this cohort study, 3,462 adults, aged 35 to 70, with no earlier history of cardiovascular diseases, were observed for a period of 5.3 years for their nap duration and frequency, over a weekly basis. The study results showed a significantly lower risk of CVD in those who took 1-2 naps weekly compared to those who did not take any. Whereas those who napped 6-7 times a week did not show any significant reduction in the incidence of CVD.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [2] a third of the US population suffers from sleep deprivation, which is the leading cause of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental distress.
As per this new study, these short naps can help curb these sleep deprivation related problems and relieve the stress in your body, thereby promoting heart and overall health. Various sleep experts suggest that an ideal nap should not exceed more than 20 minutes; this will pump up your productivity as well as help you cover up for some of your sleep loss. [3]
